Edwina furrowed her brow. “But it sounds like he is not helping them at all.”
“There are some funds that are coming in, but it is minimal compared to what your father contributed,” Mr. Warren clarified. “Furthermore, many tenants have complained about necessary repairs that are being ignored by Mr. Stanley.”
“That doesn’t sound like Mr. Stanley,” Edwina said.
“Yes, but there are rumors that your uncle is driving his estate into bankruptcy, which will greatly impact the village,” Mr. Warren remarked.
Edwina was taken aback. She didn’t know much about the financial state of her father’s estate, but she knew it had always prospered under his care. The thought of her uncle’s actions causing harm to the villagers and the estate itself made her heart ache with worry.
Mrs. Warren stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Edwina’s sleeve. “I just worry that the villagers won’t be as kind to you as they should be,” she said, her voice filled with concern.
Not wanting to believe that to be true, Edwina remarked, “They have always shown me such kindness.”
Mr. Warren grimaced. “Times are changing, and Lord Dallington doesn’t seem to care what repairs the village needs.”
Edwina’s heart sank at those words. She didn’t think her opinion of her uncle could get any worse. But she was determined not to stand by while the villagers suffered. “That is awful. There must be something that I can do to help them.”
Mr. Warren’s face softened slightly, but his answer was disheartening. “I don’t know what you can do.”
She tilted her chin, refusing to believe there was no hope. “I could speak to Mr. Stanley,” she suggested. “He is a good man and I am sure he will listen to what I have to say.”
Mr. Warren nodded, but added a note of caution. “He will, but he still answers to Lord Dallington.”
Undeterred, Edwina squared her shoulders and prepared herself for the challenge ahead. She wasn’t about to give up on the villagers, not when they needed her the most. “I will find a way to help the villagers.”
“I know you want to help, but I would be cautious around Lord Dallington,” Mr. Warren advised. “He is nothing like the great man your father was.”
“No, he isn’t,” Edwina agreed.
Mrs. Warren offered her a warm smile. “Enough of this serious talk, you should head back and join your family for breakfast.”
Edwina bobbed her head. “Perhaps that would be for the best. I wouldn’t wish to have my uncle chide me for being late... again.”
“Maybe next time you come visit you can bring your Lord Hilgrove,” Mrs. Warren proposed.
With a shake of her head, Edwina corrected, “Lord Hilgrove is not mine.”
“My apologies, it was just a slip of the tongue,” Mrs. Warren said, her smile broadening.
Mr. Warren chuckled. “You should leave before Mrs. Warren starts planning your wedding,” he teased.
With a heavy heart, Edwina murmured her goodbyes before she headed back towards the manor. She racked her brain for a solution to help the struggling villagers, but she couldn’t think of any real options. The cook could only make so many baskets of food for them.
The sound of her boots echoed through the opulent entry hall as she made her way inside. The polished marble floor shone under the warm light streaming in from the windows. A lesson from her father came to her mind- what was the pointof acquiring wealth if it couldn’t be used to better others’ lives? Her father had always lived by that philosophy.
She sighed as she headed towards the dining room. She felt helpless, and that was not a good feeling to have.
As she stepped into the dining room, she saw her uncle seated at the head of the table and he was reading the newssheets. Beside him sat Winston and Bennett, while Miles occupied the seat across from them with his back to her.
The gentlemen rose as soon as they caught sight of her, but she waved them back down and took a seat next to Miles. Her eyes fell on her napkin as she reached for it, trying to mask the turmoil brewing inside her.
“Good morning,” Miles greeted.
She forced a smile onto her lips. “Good morning.”
Miles studied her with concern. “Is everything all right?”
“It is,” Edwina rushed to assure him, though it was far from true. But this was not the time or place to confide in Miles about her worries.
