Page 57 of The Earl and His Lady

Lucas couldn’t help it. He laughed, the tension from the morning gone. Perhaps the rest of their visit would go as smoothly. For Virginia’s sake, he hoped so.

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Monday morning came, and Virginia’s first order of business was to meet with the housekeeper and go over the household expenses. Without the family in residence, some of the servants were extraneous as well, but Virginia wanted to find a way to retain them without incurring unnecessary expense.

Mrs. Thackery came in at the requested time, moving stiffly, her expression sour. Virginia had never had reason to complain about the woman before, but now she wondered if it was wise to continue working together.

“My lady, here are the accounts.” She put the book on the table and took her seat.

“Thank you, Mrs. Thackery.” Virginia opened the little book and began going through the expenditures, asking the occasional question, making notes in her own little book. She paused over one notation. “What is this order for beef here, Mrs. Thackery? That is a higher amount than I would expect. Was there a celebration?”

“Mr. Macon was in residence that week, my lady.”

The blood drained from Virginia’s cheeks and lay cold in her heart. “Mr. Macon? Here?” She checked the date again. “Two weeks past? Why was I not informed?”

Mrs. Thackery straightened her shoulders and raised her chin. “He is family, my lady. I thought you knew and, if you did not, it would be a little matter. He has always been welcome here.”

The cold treatment, the disrespectful attitude, all of it made sense. Mr. Macon had been present and likely filled the staff’s ears with his complaints and slurs against her and Lucas.

She would set the matter right at once.

“Mrs. Thackery,” she said, her tone strong. “That man is to never enter this house again unless I give express permission for him to do so.”

Mrs. Thackery’s eyes narrowed behind her spectacles. “But he is family—”

“Not anymore, Mrs. Thackery. Family does not threaten a mother’s children, nor does it call a woman a harlot before her husband.”

Mrs. Thackery’s cheeks pinked. “Whatever are you speaking of?” she asked, the words half-whispered. “Mr. Macon informed us that you had been coerced, forced, into your new marriage. He said that your family poisoned you against him. That—”

“Enough. Please.” Virginia raised a hand to her brow, trying to sort through the lies, wondering how much she ought to say to a servant. She had to make it right, but she did not wish to lay her private affairs at this woman’s feet. “I chose to marry Lord Calvert, after his kind and generous proposal, in order to protect my sons from Mr. Macon. My late husband’s brother wanted guardianship of the children and access to the estate funds. He is a greedy, conniving, unfeeling man. He is not permitted in this house or on our land again. Do I make myself clear?”

Mrs. Thackery, her eyes now the size of dinner plates, started nodding. “Yes, my lady. My apologies, my lady.”

Virginia dropped her eyes to the book as she spoke. “You gave great insult to the earl and to me when you disobeyed my orders for our rooms, Mrs. Thackery. I would demand an apology, but I feel it is best if we let the matter alone.”

Mrs. Thackery nodded again, lowering her eyes to her lap. “Yes, my lady. As you see fit.”

They went through the remainder of the accounts without further incident. Virginia added to her notes and suggested a few minor changes in expenses. Then she pointed at a staff member’s name. “How is Mr. Brennan doing as first footman?”

“Very well, my lady. He has held that position for three years now.”

Virginia nodded and bit her bottom lip, thinking on Gresham’s position at Annesbury. She would need to speak to Lucas, but perhaps it was time to pension the butler off, give him one of the cottages, and put a younger man in his place.

“Thank you, Mrs. Thackery. That will be all today.”

The woman stood to leave but hesitated before offering her departing curtsy. “My lady, I am truly sorry for my foolish mistake.”

Charles would’ve forgiven her. Virginia must as well. She nodded but said no more.

Her next item of business would, of course, be to meet with the steward again in the afternoon. This time they would be discussing the tenants’ needs.

Virginia made a few more notes in her book before standing, trying to stretch the stiffness from her back and shoulders. It was nearing time for lunch. She ought to find Lucas.

A knock on the door, and the earl’s blond head popping around the door frame, made the search unnecessary. “Would you care for a walk?” he asked.

Virginia looked down at her charcoal gray gown, then put a hand up to the twist of her hair. “I don’t know—”

“Just around the hedges,” he said. “You hardly even need a bonnet. The sun is being shy again.”