Finally, she said, “I do not see why you and Richard must secret yourself away to discuss the plans,” Lady Easton said. “You may discover that I have some very sound advice. You will not be aware of it, Mr. Vance, but I run a very tight ship in my own household. Very tight.”
“It is true,” Lady Bertridge said. “If there were anybody to go to regarding getting things in order, it must be Lady Easton. You ought to consult her on everythinginsidethe house, and Bertie for everythingoutsidethe house.”
Harry was not so certain that he wished to have any consultations with Lady Easton at all.
“We dine shortly, Mr. Vance. You must stay and we will review the whole thing over a good dinner,” Lady Bertridge said.
“I could not impose to such a degree,” Harry said.
“Nonsense, Mr. Vance. You have ventured out to seek order and you have found it,” Lady Easton said. “My nephew and I will guide you with our expert hands. If, as you say, Lady Isabel’s psyche has been affected, then it is my duty to step in as a member ofThe Society of Sponsoring Ladies. The duchess would expect it of me.”
Harry nodded. Though, he did not think the duchess would thank Lady Easton for assisting Harry Vance in anything, much less a bid to win Lady Isabel. Fortunately, it seemed that Lady Easton did not really comprehend that point. She was so blinded by thoughts of dusty corridors and wrong-set clocks that it had clouded what ought to be a fact waving a flag right in front of her.
From the amused expression Lady Bertridge currently showed, it did not seem as if that fact had escapedhernotice though. Harry suspected she would be rather an ally than not.
In any case, he would not mind dinner at all, as he did not think there would be much at the earl’s table when he returned. When he found the opportunity, he would ask Bertridge to pack him something to take back for Smith, who was unlikely to be a subject of the earl’s hospitality. If there was any hospitality at all to be had.
Over the nexttwo hours and a very good dinner, they saw rapid progress on the plan for the earl’s estate. It seemed that Bertridge had already mapped out a strategy some time ago, though it had been rejected by the earl. Judiciously cut down wood and sell it for ready funds to pay for servants and the purchase of livestock, then build a dairy and prepare fields for wheat, barley, and vegetables for the next growing season.
Harry had thought renting to tenants an obvious plan, though he was swiftly apprised that the earl could not keep a tenant long-term if his life depended upon it. It would be best to hand the whole thing to a competent steward and leave tenant relations out of it. The steward could house the workers in the old tenant cottages and eventually rearrange the terms so the workers wouldbecometenant farmers, with the earl no more the wiser. In that way, the workers could improve their circumstances without fear of the earl knocking on their doors looking for more rent.
This time around, the earl would not be asked his opinion on the plans for his property, but would be carried along by the waves of activity that would shortly hit his shores.
Bertridge would lend some servants until permanent hires could be made. Lady Bertridge insisted that whoever would be tasked with it would receive double their monthly wages. Lady Easton had thought that excessive, but Lady Bertridge had only to gently lay her hand over her expanding stomach and the point was handily won.
There had been some debate as to the likelihood of transforming the earl himself into a creditable landowner, with Bertridge exceedingly doubtful of it. It was decided that what was really needed for the long-term success of the estate was a hardnosed steward who would pay little mind to what the earl thought of anything. One who could hold the purse strings and not allow the earl to do anything stupid with the money coming in.
It turned out they might have a bit of luck there—Mr. Browning had been longtime steward to Viscount Ledbetter, but the estate had been entailed. Browning did not at all approve of the new viscount, who was exceedingly coarse. Bertridge knew Browning well, as they had often compared notes on this or that estate matter. He thought Browning could be lured away with the right salary and that the fellow might relish the challenge of upending the obstinate earl and righting the estate.
As for the feelings of the new Viscount Ledbetter upon losing his steward, it seemed Browning was not the only person disliking that person. As Lady Bertridge said, “We had him here once, and that was quite enough. His table manners are more suited to a barn than a dining table.”
After the question of the steward was settled, it was even suggested that they might be able to make off with the viscount’s cook too. Mrs. Redman was an excellent woman and while Bertridge could not positively know her feelings about her new employer, he could guess at them. As well, he’d often suspected that Browning and the cook were great friends, possibly more. He would ask Browning to speak to the lady.
Lady Bertridge suggested asking a person named Bemmy if she might not put a hand in to supervise the housemaids. This turned out to be Lady Bertridge’s one-time lady’s maid who had since married and managed Bertridge’s cheesemaking with her husband. Bemmy, if descriptions were true, was an energetic and enterprising soul who would not be the least put off by any rantings and ravings from the earl.
The poor old butler, Rogers, was considered and Bertridge was in total agreement that the man must have a pension so he could retire. Harry took that on himself. He had a cottage nearby the house on his own estate that was currently empty and would do very well. He would see that the old fellow was made comfortable. They would advertise for a butler and a cadre of footmen.
As for the finances to be arranged before the estate was back on its feet—Bertridge proposed a loan split between them, but Harry was prepared to foot it all. Lady Isabel would come to be apprised thathehad done what was necessary, and nobody else.
Lady Easton had all sorts of questions Harry could not answer about the details of the workings of the house. Finally, she said, “There is nothing for it, I will have to go and see for myself first thing in the morning.”
Lady Bertridge had nodded and said all sorts of encouraging things about the idea of Lady Easton splitting her time in such a fashion. Harry got the sense that the lady would not mind her husband’s aunt exiting the house for at least a little bit of time each day. If not exiting altogether permanently.
He left with Lady Bertridge’s good sense following him back to the earl’s estate by way of a carriage filled with things that were required immediately. There were two plates of sliced ham, boiled potatoes, and green beans and two berry tarts. One would be for Smith, and the other for Rogers, who looked decidedly underfed.
There was tea, coffee, bacon, eggs, a side of beef, fresh-baked bread, biscuits, butter, cream, various sweetbreads, pounds of cheese, and two pies. There were three cases of wine, two bottles of port and two bottles of brandy.
Until they had a cook, Harry had no idea how any of the food would get prepared. He did not think Rogers up to the task and he was the only servant there. He supposed he and Smith could try their hand at it—how hard could it be to cook eggs?
He did not know, but he would find out in the morning and hopefully they would not burn the place down while they were at it.
His valet was waiting for him at the door when he arrived back to the earl’s estate. He took hold of Harry’s horse and said, “There is nothing for you to eat, nor was there for me. There was a quarter of a chicken and some boiled beans a woman brought from the village and the earl left not a crumb behind.”
Smith glanced at the carriage now stopped on the drive. “Please tell me you did not bring back guests. I am so hungry right now I might boil and eat one of them.”
“Get the name of that woman who brought the chicken and employ her as a temporary cook. In the meantime, you will not starve, the carriage is full of food, not people.”
“Praise the heavens,” Smith said. “I was on the verge of lighting a torch and going out to forage for mushrooms and berries.”
