“You can deny it all you want, but ever since you and your father came around, nothing has happened,” the man declared. “You store your money in your coffers and you let us suffer.”
With a frown, Bennett said, “I have no idea what you are referring to.”
The man took a step back. “Be warned, my lord, you are nothing without this village and its people. I would remember that,” he advised before spinning on his heel and hurrying down the pavement.
Miles gave Bennett a questioning look. “What was that about?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea, but I intend to find out,” Bennett replied. “I think it would be best if we go speak to Mr. Stanley, my father’s man of business. His office is just around the corner here.”
Both of them seemed to retreat into their thoughts as they rounded the corner and entered a two-level brick building. Miles trailed behind Bennett to a door on the first level and waited as he rapped his knuckles against it.
“Enter,” came a voice from inside the office.
Bennett opened the door and stepped inside, revealing a silver-haired man sitting behind a large desk. The office was spacious, lined with bookshelves filled to the brim with books. A single window provided light and overlooked the garden below.
The man rose from his seat and greeted them with a warmsmile. “Lord Dunsby, welcome,” he said, motioning them to enter. “Please come in.”
Miles recognized that voice. It had been the voice of the man speaking to Lord Dallington earlier in the study.
Bennett gestured towards Miles, providing the introductions. “Mr. Stanley, allow me to introduce you to Lord Hilgrove.”
Mr. Stanley bowed respectfully. “My lord.” He turned his attention back to Bennett, curiosity evident in his expression. “Now, what do I owe this unexpected pleasure to?”
Bennett’s demeanor shifted, becoming more serious. “I just had an interesting conversation on the pavement with one of my tenants.”
“May I ask which one?” Mr. Stanley asked.
“I don’t know,” Bennett replied. “He wouldn’t give me his name.”
Mr. Stanley gave him a blank stare. “That is rather odd. Did he say as to why that was?”
Bennett shrugged. “He seemed afraid that I was going to evict him.”
“For what purpose?” Mr. Stanley inquired.
Bennett leaned closer, placing his hands on the chair’s back for support. “He implied that our tenants weren’t happy since my father took over the estate.”
“That is ludicrous, and not the least bit true,” Mr. Stanley declared.
“But why would he even say such a thing?” Bennett pressed.
Mr. Stanley picked up a stack of papers and rifled through them. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he searched for a specific document, finally removing it from the pile and holding it up for Bennett to see. “I think I know what it might be,” he shared. “There have been a few families that haven’t been paying their fair share and I threatened them with eviction. But that takes time.”
Bennett accepted the paper and his eyes skimmed it. “Is there a particular reason why these families haven’t been paying?” he questioned.
“The crops were not as plentiful this year as past years have been, and I’m afraid some of your tenants are struggling to make ends meet,” Mr. Stanley said, his tone sympathetic.
Bennett extended the paper back to Mr. Stanley. “Does my father know this?”
“He is aware,” Mr. Stanley replied. “But times are tough for everyone, and it isn’t fair to pass the burden on to your father.”
“I suppose not,” Bennett reluctantly admitted. “But rather than evict, what can we do to help them?”
“Help them, my lord?” Mr. Stanley repeated incredulously.
“Perhaps we can buy new machinery to help aid with the crops next season,” Bennett proposed. “By doing so, we can continue to collect rent and our tenants can produce more crops.”
Mr. Stanley lowered the paper back onto the desk and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I will go speak to your father and see if he is opposed to such an idea.”
