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Chapter Four
The morning sun streamed through the window as Baldwin sat in his chair and perused the ledgers on his desk. His brother had done a fine job of ensuring all their investments had grown over the years. When Baldwin left for his mission, Oliver had balked at the responsibility that had been handed him, but Baldwin had faith that he would rise to the challenge. And he had been correct.
Oliver had increased their holdings by buying up the parcels of land surrounding their country estate in Sussex.
“Well done, Brother,” Baldwin muttered to himself as he closed one of the ledgers and reached for another. Perhaps he should leave his brother in charge more often.
As if on cue, Oliver walked into the study with his cravat untied, the top buttons of his waistcoat undone, and his hair tousled about.
“What has you up so early?” his brother asked with a yawn.
“I wanted to get a start on reviewing the ledgers,” Baldwin lied. He didn’t want to tell his brother that he hardly slept anymore. He couldn’t. Images would come to his mind, images that he wanted to forget.
Oliver sat down in the chair in front of the desk, his eyes red. “May I ask why?”
“I thought I should become reacquainted with the finances. Although, I must admit that you’ve done an admirable job with them.”
With a smirk, Oliver admitted, “It wasn’t me.”
“No?” Baldwin asked. “Then who was it? Our man of business, Mr. Owen, or one of our solicitors?”
“It was Jane.”
Baldwin lifted his brow. “Jane?” he asked. “She did all of this?”
Oliver nodded. “Our sister is quite clever when it comes to managing the properties and balancing the ledgers.”
“You don’t say,” Baldwin replied, wiping a hand over his mouth. “I had no idea.”
“I hadn’t, either, but she saw me struggling with the ledgers one night and offered to take a look,” Oliver shared. “After that, she just sort of took over and started working with our man of business.”
“And Mr. Owen worked with her willingly?”
“Once he saw Jane’s vision, and how much money was to be made by her, he came around.”
“For which I am immensely grateful.” Baldwin paused, perusing his brother’s haggard appearance. “I must say that you look awful.”
Frowning, Oliver said, “That was not a very nice thing to say to your favorite brother.”
“I am only speaking the truth,” Baldwin replied. “Were you out all night?”
“I was. I went to the gambling halls.”
“Is that where you went after dinner?”
Oliver nodded. “I spend nearly every night out. Sometimes I am at the gambling halls, and other times I am at social gatherings, balls or soirées.”
“Since when did you start enjoying social events?”
Crossing his arms over his wide chest, his brother said, “I don’t, but Corbyn tasked me with identifying any radical thinkers amongst the ton.”
“Ah, I understand now.”
“At first, I enjoyed the gambling halls,” Oliver admitted. “I even made a small fortune at the tables, but now I find them rather irksome.”
“You should ask for a new assignment.”
Oliver shook his head. “I am in a perfect position to spy. Furthermore, the scheming mothers generally avoid me for their matchmaking because of my despicable reputation.” He lifted his brow. “But I daresay that you won’t be so lucky.”
