“I need your help with the estate.”
“Of course, my lord. I will provide as much assistance as I can.”
“No, I mean more than that. Mr. Dunson has to go. His mismanagement and corruption are too evident. Abigail, I have been away from England for over twenty years. I left as a child and know nothing about estate management. I will need your advice and guidance if I’m ever going to rescue this estate.”
“But, my lord. I’m not qualified.” She protested. “What you need is a competent steward—”
“Yes, and I will hire one. But the reason I need you is that you know the estate’s tenants. You are aware of their needs and they trust you. They listen to you. Please say you will work with me. I have to undo the harm my neglect has caused.”
“It is not your fault, you know.” Her eyes were gentle.
“What isn’t?”
“The estate condition. It was like this long before you inherited.”
“That doesn’t excuse the fact that I neglected my duties for months.”
She hesitated for a long time. He thought she was going to refuse, and he just looked at her. Steady. Promising.
“All right. I will work with you. But the countess needs me, too. And I have duties in the house's management...”
“We will work something out. I don’t want to overburden you. And I will compensate you. At least you didn’t say no. You could have, you know. Your position here is not dependent upon you helping me.”
“I know. You are a good man, Colin.”
He stilled. Did she realize it was the first time she uttered his given name? A moment of intense awareness shimmered between them. He held his breath. Afraid to dispel it.
Disconcerted, she turned and walked towards the door. “I’m sorry. I can’t join you now. Enjoy your dinner.”
With that, she left. Closing the door softly behind her. Leaving him stunned at the indescribable pleasure of hearing his name on her lips.
CHAPTER 7
THE NEXT MORNING, HEconfronted Mr. Dunson. He would have liked nothing better than to throw the man in prison for his greed and cruelty. But decided to be practical and offered to let him go without prosecution if he returned the money he had stolen.
It should have been a simple decision for the steward. Colin had more than enough evidence to throw him in prison for embezzlement. He was offering the man his freedom and the opportunity to right part of his wrongs. But Dunson had not the intelligence to know when he had been outsmarted and turned more unpleasant than he could have predicted.
