Page 45 of One Night with an Earl

Oliver was accustomed to dealing with a great variety of tenant grievances. He took his role seriously, and when his father or brother paid little heed to arising problems, Oliver had always stepped in to handle matters.

He’d met with the tenant farmers to decide which crops to plant each year and which fields to remain fallow. He’d helped thatch roofs and summoned a surgeon to treat ill tenants. He’d overseen the hiring of servants for the earldom’s estates. But he’d never had to deal with an infidelity squabble that could end someone’s life.

“My lord?”

“There must be a peaceful way to arbitrate the matter,” Oliver said.

“I attempted to resolve it myself, but the situation at Rosedown is different from your other estates.”

“How so?”

“Under your supervision, the other estates have thrived. But Rosedown was owned by a neglectful baron for years before your father acquired it.”

You mean before my father stole it from a drunken, grief-stricken baron over a game of cards like child’s play.

No sense correcting Hamilton.

“With due respect, your father and brother took little interest in squabbles. As a result, the tenants are not accustomed to your lordship’s care,” Hamilton said.

He didn’t need a reminder about his family’s shortcomings. As for the former Lord Woodbridge, he may not approve of how his father won the estate from him, but he did not condone the baron’s neglect of his duties. “Then it’s time I pay Rosedown a visit.”

Hamilton’s voice was filled with relief. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Don’t thank me yet until the problem is solved and no one is killed.”

Chapter Sixteen

“You did what?” Oliver practically shouted.

“Do not speak to me in such a disrespectful tone, my boy.” It was two days later, and the dowager swept into his study and settled on the sofa, which Oliver observed had fast become her favorite seat in his home.

Oliver joined her and crossed his booted feet at the ankles. He swallowed and prayed for patience. Not for the first time, his grandmother had arrived unannounced. He’d been working, going over the wine stock in the mansion’s cellars to ensure a sufficient amount would be on hand for the winter and any upcoming events. He felt the beginnings of a headache at his temples.

“After learning of your plans to visit one of your country estates, I invited the Malverns to Rosedown for a short respite.”

Oliver had mentioned his plans to travel to Hertfordshire briefly only to let her know he would leave town for a few days. His grandmother suffered from frequent illnesses even in good weather. Her staff was generally competent to aid the dowager, but when he was in town, he also put himself at her disposal.

“You didn’t just invite them; you sent the invitation in my name.” He’d first found out when his butler, Burk, had delivered him Lord and Lady Malvern’s response. Oliver immediately knew who was responsible.

“The older I get, the more I see the need to take initiative,” she said.

“It’s highly inconvenient. I have business to attend to at Rosedown, a dispute between the tenants that I hope to quickly resolve.”

“Then you shouldn’t mind guests.” She pulled out a handkerchief from her reticule and blew her nose.

His annoyance with her was quickly replaced with concern. Sometimes he forgot she was well into her seventies. “Are you well?”

“I went for a walk in the park yesterday. I should know better by now that the flowering blooms this time of year do not agree with me.”

Then it was best if she did not accompany him to Rosedown. The place had an abundance of flowering shrubs and wild rosebushes, many towering on trellises over six feet tall.

Oliver rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger as he tried to come up with a more convincing argument for why her idea was not the best. “It’s during the Season. No doubt the Malverns would rather attend romps, parties, and all other manners of entertainment over a country house party.”

“It is not a house party,” she corrected, “but a short respite, and Lady Malvern was quite receptive.”

“You mean the ambitious woman is eager to keep her daughter within eyesight.”

“She is not the only one.” The dowager waved her hand at the papers littering the surface of his desk. “We’ve been over this many times, my boy. You work too hard, and there are other pressing matters that the earldom requires.”