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“But I am not to use them?” Jack had gathered this much.
“You can sayTereford, as I call youFerrington,” the duke answered. “Friends use first names.”
Jack wondered if they were likely to become friends. It seemed doubtful. “And…my lady?”
“Oh, call herduchess.”
His wife made a face at him. “That’s silly. You two are…” She counted on her fingers. “Second cousins? Something of the sort. Family, at any rate. Why stand on ceremony?” She turned to Jack. “You should call usCeceliaandJames.”
He wasn’t certain that was more comfortable. Though these two were friendly, they were also intimidating. Perhaps he could simply avoid using names. “It seems this place hasn’t been kept up,” Jack said, changing the subject. “I thought that was part of the job.”
“Job?” The duke—James—looked blank.
“Of noblemen. Managing their properties.”
“Ah, yes. Fecklessness appears to run in our line, however.”
“Along with flippancy,” said his wife.
“No, no, that is only me. Unless…” He glanced over at Jack. “You are right, my dear. Jack the Rogue had a strong measure of flippancy.”
“Had?” asked Jack.
“Do you intend to keep it up? Bravo.”
“James,” said the duchess.
When their eyes met so warmly, one felt invisible, Jack thought. It was irritating. “The job,” he repeated. “What the earl is supposed to do.”
“Manage the estate,” answered the duke, as if this was self-evident.
“Which includes what, precisely?”
“You should talk to Cecelia. She’d be far better at that sort of thing than I.”
Jack was surprised both by that fact and that the duke would admit it.
“I’d be happy to look over the estate records with you and see where things stand,” the duchess said.
He nodded his thanks.
“It is a great opportunity to set things to rights,” she added. Her tone suggested she was offering him a special treat.
“I suppose.” Jack shrugged. “Or one could just sell the place.”
Both his companions looked shocked.
“The main estate is probably entailed,” said the duchess.
Jack didn’t know the term, and he was tired of asking. Well, he would learn and understand before he began giving orders. Should he decide to do so. “I should make the acquaintance of my neighbors,” he said.
“Indeed,” replied the duke. “A good idea. Unless you want to wait…”
Until he was more like an actual earl, presumably. Jack had no time for that. “The closest house is Winstead Hall, I believe. I shall pay them a visit.”
His companions exchanged another glance. “That might be a good place to start,” said the duchess.
A little weary of their silent communications, Jack replied with a touch of mockery. “Because they are nearby?”
