Page 54 of From Unwanted to Duchess
CHAPTER 18
James
James watched as Frances returned from yet another ride out to the farms.
“You said she went to the Sweetings again?” he asked Franklin, who was busy pressing his trousers.
“Yes. I heard that a meeting was held there. It seems Her Grace is encouraging the farmers to unite.”
“Unite?” He frowned. “What for?”
“To make their voices heard, I assume,” Franklin replied. “Her Grace has been working on this for a week, I believe.”
“I see.” James turned away from the window and sat in his armchair, one leg crossed over the other. “And what do you make of it?”
Franklin put the iron aside and folded the trousers. “I think it is a good idea, especially with Somerset Trust having its fingers in your business. I hear that they are electing someone to speak for them.”
“Is that so? And who do you think it’s going to be?”
Franklin shrugged. “I am uncertain, but I have heard the name Ernest Sweeting mentioned.”
“The one who’s always in his cups and drunk as a wheelbarrow every Friday night? Regularly cup-shot, that one.” James let out a laugh. “I do not know that that is the best choice.”
“He is a very clever man when he is not under the influence of spirits,” Franklin said. “I think he is a good choice. He is the one who spearheaded the recovery efforts after the flood last year. Showed real bottom when it mattered.”
James nodded.
Last year, they had suffered from torrential rains that had flooded out several fields. The farmers had put their heads together to solve the problem, which James had thought was a good thing, but he had been surprised when they had notcontinued afterward. It was clever of Frances to see the problem and spearhead its solution.
He had meant what he said to her—she did surprise him. Not only in the way she had spoken to Franklin and stood up for young Benjamin, but also in the way she managed the farmers.
Every day this week, she had ridden out and spoken to them. Not that he heard this from her. They barely spoke after all.
But James heard from Franklin. He heard from Morrison, the new steward, who had started the previous week. And he was impressed. His wife had accomplished in a fortnight what he had failed to accomplish in years. If he was impressed, perhaps Somerset Trust would be impressed as well.
“I am surprised that you speak up for her, given how she dressed you down.”
“It was a dressing-down I needed,” Franklin said. “I had quite forgotten my compassion and empathy, I will admit. She reminded me of when I was a lad here—lost and alone, without a friend to count on. I will do better.”
James smiled. “Well, that is good to hear. I did think you were a little harsh with the boy.”
“And yet you said nothing.”
“And yet I said nothing, and my wife did after only a short while here. How long has it been? A fortnight?”
“About that, yes,” Franklin said. “She is quite something, Her Grace.”
“Yes,” James agreed quietly. “Yes, she is. She is proving herself a true duchess, whether she believes it or not.”
“Perhaps you ought to tell her so.”
James nodded. “Perhaps I ought.”
Then, an idea came to him.
“Pray, will you deliver a note to Her Grace? Tell her that I need her in my study this afternoon.”
“For the meeting with Morrison?”
