A Spinster to Heal the Duke

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

" Y ou shall not have the satisfaction of making me look like a brute, My Lady ," he said with a sarcastic tone.

Anne sucked in her breath and did not offer a retort. She prepared the food, he thought, replaying the words in his mind. Though she is the granddaughter of a baron, their family is clearly not so well off. They have no cook, no valet, no driver. Her brother fetched the doctor and removed my boot. She has been cooking every meal.

His Grace considered raising his voice to Anne. He could easily tell her not to act so high and mighty when her family appeared to have fallen so low as to not have any staff, so low that she must sully her own hands with tasks like cooking.

How could any ranking landholder go about with dignity knowing his own grandchildren are essentially the only staff in his home? These people are vulgar and have squandered what they were given by the crown, the duke thought in smug judgment.

"One servant or one hundred, I shall eat the meal you prepared," he declared, smiling at Anne smugly.

The corner of her mouth flinched, but Anne could accept however the Duke behaved so long as he ate.

He stood, and Anne did not offer to help him. He took the few steps to the chair and end table where the plate sat. He smiled his grotesque smile at Anne as he stabbed a bit of vegetables and meat with his fork then he held it toward her like a toasting gesture.

He placed it in his mouth, chewing and smiling. Then, his expression changed. He looked at the plate. He looked at Anne. He ate another bite.

"What is this?" he asked.

Anne appeared caught off guard by the question.

"What is this?" the Duke repeated, eating another bite. "It tastes like turbot, but different in some way."

"There are lots of ways to prepare turbot," Anne replied. "This is braised turbot."

"What else?" the Duke persisted.

"Lobster mousseline, asparagus tips, champagne and chive sauce," Anne explained. "I thought about making a more traditional turbot with lobster and Dutch sauce, but I thought this might suit Your Grace's tastes better. I imagine you eat nothing but the best and fanciest meals in London, so I hoped to make something that could compare and make you feel more at home. Each meal today was made with that thought in mind if you had bothered to try them."

This is good, but it could be that I am simply that starved, he thought. Either way, I think the best thing in this girl's future would be to seek employment in the kitchen of a good family, perhaps with her aunt that the Baron mentioned in his ramblings.

He ate a bit more. I hoped to silence the woman, but I'm speechless at the food, he thought.

He devoured every bite without further question, only saying, "Next course," when he finished one portion of the meal and was ready for the next.

When he finished dessert, the Duke asked, "You made all that? Not just the entree or a side in each course?"

Anne had watched him eat, smiling more with each bowl and plate cleaned. She happily carried the tray down and back up again to serve each course, pleased to see the Duke not only finally eating but enjoying her food.

"I made the entire meal, Your Grace," Anne said proudly.

I have no words, the Duke thought. Our time together has been strained since I crossed the threshold to this place. What could I say now that would complement the food and her skill without further, dare say, insulting everything and everyone else about this place.

" I will not disturb you any further this evening. I am glad you have eaten and even more pleased you seem to have enjoyed your meal, Your Grace," Anne said, clearing the table.

She left the room, and the Duke did not say anything further though he lay awake that night wondering what he could or possibly should have said.

The following morning, even without sleep, he was more amicable toward his hosts than he had been. He also joined the Drowtons at breakfast. He hardly noticed his pain making his way to the table until he reached the bottom of the stairwell.

As he stumbled, Anne was just in time to catch him.

"I was just on my way to see if you would be joining us this morning. I hoped I hadn't caused you to overdo it last night," she said in a more amicable manner than she had previously addressed the Duke with.

"No," he replied in a softer tone than she had grown accustomed to. "I shall dine this morning."

Anne turned away, but he could see a soft smile had graced her countenance.

When she smiles, it is as stirring as the first bite of her food, the Duke considered before shaking his mind of the thought.

Aloud, he said, "I appreciate your assistance, but I can manage. If you will please lead the way to the dining table."

"Of course, Your Grace," Anne replied.

As the Duke followed, he looked at painted portraits, busts, statuary, and other decorations adorning the house.

"I suppose there is a certain charm balanced with an aristocratic air here," the Duke observed. "Perhaps it seems less than what it is because you have so few servants about. It's not that unlike some of the other barons and viscounts I have stayed with for a hunting season."

Anne paused and looked around them.

"I suppose it is not so grand as where you must live, but it is the only home I have known since I was ten," Anne replied. "I guess it is good to know that we are no more or less than another of Grandfather's title."

When they reached the dining room, the table was already set. The Duke greeted Lord Reedley and Charles, but he was most eager to eat and relax in the parlor.

He had seen enough of his room for some time and hoped to pass the afternoon on the couch in peace with a full stomach of the cakes, muffins, and tea that set before him — and even a few slices of ham and bacon if his stomach could manage.

Jeremy and Charles attempted to make conversation with him, but the Duke kept all of his responses as brief as possible.

"It is good to see you up and about this morning, Your Grace," Jeremy observed.

"Please, call me Grandon, Sir. We are in your home, and you are my host. Let there be no titles," he replied.

"Very well, thank you, Grandon," Jeremy replied happily. "It is so good when we can lay down what divides us and come to the table together as men."

"Mm," Noah replied, stabbing at his food with his fork,

I should probably slow down. Eating so quickly is neither good for my digestion nor appearance, he thought.

"And you look much better today," Jeremy continued. "Perhaps I can persuade you to a game of Commerce this evening."

"We shall see," Noah replied. "It is early yet."

He speaks to me like he is an uncle I have come to visit. Doesn't he have any duties he must tend to? Property to check on? the Duke wondered.

"Well, count me out," said Charles. "I shall be looking at finances for last month until well into the night."

"I'm sure you will surprise yourself and complete everything before dinner," Anne suggested supportively. "You have a better grasp of things than you believe you do."

"We'll see about that," Charles replied, looking downtrodden. "If what I am thinking is correct, we have sunk another thirty pounds in the last month when we should have gained twice as much."

What? Noah thought in near shout to himself. No wonder they have no staff. A child is managing the household finances.

Then, he looked around the table.

"I suppose with an elderly father figure and a woman who bears the entire burden of the home without staff to delegate to and direct, it is to be expected for you to assume the managerial burdens of the home. Though, if the boy as young as yourself can succeed, it will not only build character, but it will also rebuild this place to a viable landholding under your power," Noah observed. "It could restore some of the grandeur in the family that elements of the home reflect."

"Let that be an encouragement to you, Charles," Anne told her brother.

"Practice makes improvement," Noah said aloud. "That is what my father always told me. It is what I tell myself now when a task is challenging."

"Words of wisdom," said the Baron. "But I suppose I should expect no less from the former Duke of Grandon, Christopher Campbell. He was a good man. His passing was felt throughout the land."

You knew my father? the Duke wanted to ask, but instead, he only paused.

Jeremy smiled and said, "Your father was a good man. You are always welcome in our home."

Then, when the older man resumed eating, Noah did as well. He finished his plate quickly then excused himself from the table to the parlor.

He had only begun to rest his eyes when he sensed another person in the room. Still, the Duke chose to keep his eyes closed and keep the facade that he had fallen asleep that quickly. Soon enough, he realized the other person in the room was Charles.

"This makes no sense," Charles said to himself. "Taxes were collected and remitted. Household expenses are accounted for. I've carried every one, crossed every T, and dotted every I. Why won't this balance sheet be balanced?"

With a sigh, Noah opened an eye to look at the young man and ask, "Have you tracked all of your income?"

Charles visibly jumped hearing him speak, but he followed the Duke's advice and looked his numbers over once more.

"Perhaps there is a land title exchange I have missed," he said thoughtfully. "Or some merchant sale I should double check."

"In financial matters, profit and loss, there is no exchange too small to include. Once is an oversight. More than once is a habit that will lead to people taking advantage of you and your estate," Noah said, sitting up and looking at Charles directly. "And, you do know a better place to study is… the study? How do you expect to be left alone to focus when you work in the parlor, a room meant for socializing and entertaining?"

"Yes, Your Grace," the young man said, overlooking the chastising for the help it was meant to be. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, and as I told your grandfather, please, call me Grandon," the Duke said then he added, "I suppose I can sit at the table with you. We can look over things together, and I can give you some pointers."

The young man had a look of pure joy. Noah smiled a little at his reaction.

"Thank you, Grandon," Charles replied, testing the informality of using Grandon on his lips.

Anne observed, "Well, I shall at least continue to refer to you as Your Grace though it is very kind of you to allow us informal address."

Noah had not heard her enter the room and felt strange now to correct her. It felt stranger that he had an urge to compliment her. Anne had changed dresses for the evening now that morning had passed, and while the newer frock was nice, something in her demeanor and how she carried herself as she entered the room drew his eye.

Instead, he said, "As you wish, Miss Drowton."

They nodded at each other, and Anne explained, "I have a book with me, so I shall try not to be too much of a disturbance, but I am glad to hear His Grace agrees with me. Charles you would do better to study in the study, a place designed to be without disruption for men to focus."

"I think better when I can bounce things off of other people," Charles argued though he wasn't sure that it was true. "Thinking aloud is only useful when someone else is there to hear and respond to the thought."

"I think there is a mistake in your logic brother, but you seem to have an excellent tutor today," Anne replied. "Your Grace, feel free to make any request you like during your stay for working with such a challenging student."

Noah stifled a laugh at the siblings.

Then, he said, "Charles, let me look over what you have so far, so I can better direct you in finding errors or improvements to your calculations."

Charles handed his new and temporary tutor the ledger he tracked the month's income and debits with. Then, he walked him through the notes he made calculating profit and loss each month.

The boy seems so proud of what he has done so far. I hate to tell him most of his numbers appear wrong, Noah thought disappointedly. If any of this is accurate, it is amazing they only lack staff. At this rate they will lose their title and holdings before young Charles is thirty-five.

"How does it look, Grandon?" Charles asked after the Duke had turned several pages in each book.

In the politest way he could manage, Noah said, "It looks like you and I need to make the most of our time together."

Charles's smile disappeared, and he sat in utter disappointment.

Noah encouraged, "It will be all right. My father taught me well before he passed, and I will do the same for you."

"Thank you," Charles replied. "Our father passed when I was too young to learn a lot of things. Unfortunately, when I was old enough to need to know, Grandfather was old enough to be forgetting."

Noah nodded understandingly.

"At least the Baron was here to have shown you the basics. I can fine tune the rest, and Reedley Manor shall resume its glory in no time," he replied, patting Charles on the back encouragingly.

Anne looked on as the Duke patiently walked her brother through a number of checks and balances in overseeing not only their manor but agriculture, mining, trade, and supporting the community. As she listened, she grew completely distracted from reading her book and learned a little as well.

"If you have not been receiving daily information on what is declared from your mines, your numbers are skewed greatly," the Duke stated.

His tone snobbishly implied this was something Charles should have known and clearly didn't, but it was also tempered. The Duke would clearly be exasperated one moment then seem to remind himself that Charles had not had the introduction to his position as future baron as he received from his father to prepare him for becoming a duke. When he would periodically pause and let the realization sink in, he showed Charles patience and praised all the younger man did right for essentially being self-taught.

A lot of the things I initially found wrong here can be attributed to circumstance, Noah thought. They seem to have lost their parents young, and in the care of an elder, some things seem to have simply slipped through the cracks or been too much to manage under the circumstances.

As Charles erased and scratched through his previous work, Noah felt proud as he saw new numbers taking their place that were more in line with his assumptions.

"Very good," he commended.

"If you have seen any improvement, it is likely because you were there over his shoulder," Anne said, setting her book down.

She crossed the room to the credenza and found an embroidery project she had been working on.

"Sometimes one-to-one focus is necessary to produce a good student," Noah pointed out, not wanting Charles to be disheartened.

Then, he was shown the playful teasing in the relationship between the Drowton brother and sister.

"Yeah, I need one-to-one interaction to focus and understand, but all I've had is you which is not far from being alone," Charles said to his sister.

"I would have been no help to you though I have provided a buffet of thinking snacks over the years," she laughed. Imitating her brother, she added, "Please, Dis, a bit of hot chocolate and any leftover cakes from this morning."

"Mother did always tell us food was meant to be eaten," Charles said with a shrug. "I can't help if I think better when I am eating."

"If you do, I haven't fed you enough," Anne replied, both of them laughing heartily.

Noah couldn't help it, but he found himself laughing, too. He had not laughed and enjoyed another's company in some time, much like he enjoyed Anne's cooking.

After some time passed, Anne said, "I believe it is time that I excuse myself to prepare a sandwich tray and pasties for us. Does that suit, Your Grace?"

Noah looked at Anne and saw she meant no ill will but referred to him that way out of polite habit.

"Yes, Miss Drowton," he replied. "That sounds delightful. We shall wrap up here and join you in the dining room presently."

She gave the two gentlemen a small curtsey and set off to the kitchen.

If I were in London, I would be in a club or tavern, declining a sandwich, he thought.