Page 25 of Counting on Love

“I haven’t heard from Crispin, but I did get a letter from Benjamin. My letter took a long time to find him. He’d gone into the godforsaken interior somewhere. He said he would like the position if I haven’t already found someone. He has a few things to take care of but then will book passage on the next available ship.” He rubbed his jaw. “I don’t expect him here, honestly, until summer.”

“But you will hold the position for him?”

“He’s the right person for it. It doesn’t make sense to me to launch a search for a steward that may take until summer anyway. I don’t want to hire someone just to have someone. That causes more work in the end.”

“Yes. So Father has said.”

“Font of all wisdom.” He looked at his papers again. This time it was Jasper who appeared to be holding back tears. Reginald ignored that and kept talking so Jasper would not know that he saw.

“Well, things have been rolling in their ruts for months. I take it Father’s man of business has things in hand.”

“Oh, yes. I suppose. The servants are not leaving in droves. They must be getting paid. I don’t know that the rents are being collected.”

“I’m sure Wentworth is seeing to that.” Bradwell did have an assistant; he’d been ancient, after all.

“The thing is…” Jasper leaned back in the chair. The leather squeaked. Such a familiar sound, but it seemed to startle him. He straightened. “The thing is, I don’t want to present Benjamin with a slipshod set of books that haven’t been cracked open in ages. I took a peek. Loose receipts are stuffed between pages. The last entry was dated eight months ago.”

“God.”

“I know Benjamin can straighten it all out. It isn’t that I’m worried that he can’t. It’s simply that it’s an embarrassing start. It should not have gotten to this point.”

“No, of course not. But that isn’t your fault.”

“It isn’t and it is. Either way, it’s embarrassing to the family. Not that he’d carry tales. Or hold it over me.”

“No. I understand.” He did. Jasper was assuming his role. And Reginald was proud of him for it. It was not a role Reginald would have wanted for himself. “So what do you intend to do?”

“Ha. Well.” A little of the usual lightness slipped into his voice. “I intend to dump the whole mess on you, naturally.”

“What?” His voice rose with disbelief Of course, he wanted to help lessen Jasper’s burdens, but he knew nothing about bookkeeping.

“The most recent set of ledgers is on the table behind you. Peters has a basket of receipts and bills, some of which were probably paid but he has no proof of that, and, should there be any need, there are years and years of old ledgers in the barristers on the left side of the library.”

This was absurd! “I’m not an accountant!”

“You took a first in mathematics at Cambridge.”

“That’s entirely different. I’m not being lazy or difficult, Jasper, I—”

“Reg, you are brilliant. There is no denying it. I know it’s a tedious thing to ask of you, but you’ll figure it out.”

Reginald swallowed his protests. It was not that much to ask. And surely, he could figure it out. His own interests could wait. Should wait. “What if I uncover all your old gambling debts?” he asked.

Jasper laughed. Reginald realized he had not heard his brother laugh since leaving London.

“Then, as always, I will rely upon your discretion, little brother.”

He started to rise. “Will that be all?”

“No. One more thing.”

Reginald settled back with a sigh. “I hope you didn’t save the worst for last.”

“Maybe. Mother has invited a few houseguests. At my request.”

“Houseguests! Now? Are you mad?”

“I think it will help.”