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“But surely, there are…” Adeline trailed off and waved a vague hand. “There must be—is it called a ledger? A summary? Surely, someone kept an abridged record of all the expenditures?”
“This ensures there are no mistakes, My Lady,” Matthew offered.
Marcella glanced at the papers at her feet. It did appear to be a record of some kind for a trip to Milan. When she searched her memories, she did vaguely recall Lady Greenburrow having gone on such a trip a few years previously.
“Maybe Lord Simon could aid your efforts,” Adeline said. “He would know, I think, where the bulk of the estate expenses are.”
That was, indeed, a good argument. Reginald looked decidedly unpleased with the idea, though.
Why?
Perhaps, it was Lord Simon’s sharp words which had made Reginald hesitant to call upon him for aid, but it did seem to Marcella that Reginald’s cousin would know a great deal about the state of Hurrow.
“We shall certainly do that if any questions arise,” Matthew said cheerfully. “We don’t want to bother Lord Simon until we’ve completed this drudgery, though. It would be an improper task to thrust upon a young lord.”
Reginald looked taken aback. “Yes, precisely.”
His agreement had come too quickly, confirming Marcella’s suspicions that neither Reginald nor Matthew had any intention in reaching out to Lord Simon.
“Ah, well,” Marcella said. “We shall leave you to it. Adeline and I are going to the library.”
“An excellent idea,” Reginald said. “Enjoy yourself.”
Marcella carefully navigated around the papers on her trip to the door. Once she and Adeline had reached the room’s threshold, Reginald cleared his throat. Marcella looked over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“Will you close the door, dear?” Reginald asked. “I believe the maid left it open, and I’d like some privacy.”
“Of course.”
Marcella pulled the door shut behind her, but she could still hear her husband’s muffled voice from the other side of the door. She pitied her poor husband, locked in that room with all those papers when much more pleasant pursuits were just around the corner.
