Chapter 28
Nathanial
For the first time since inheriting his title, Nathanial was able to feel truly satisfied with his work. It turned out everything in life was easier when the money to cover basic necessities and beyond was available.
Again, that feeling of resentful gratitude welled up inside him.
If he could only work his emotions past the resentment… but every time he thought about it, his mind lingered on exactly why he was resentful. About how his choices had been taken from him, when he’d had so very few in the first place. About how much he’d liked her.
Enjoyed her company.
Only to discover she wasn’t who, or what, he’d thought she was.
Maybe he would be less resentful if she had not pretended to be an honorable young lady. If she had not made him like her.
A knock on the door to his study made him jump. Though he knew the Milfords were about, he had not expected to be interrupted.
“Come in.”
Daniel opened the door, stepping inside with a frown on his face.
“Mr. Galbraith, from the village, requests an audience, Your Grace.”
No wonder Daniel was frowning. Nathanial’s lips turned down in the same manner.
There was an unspoken agreement in the area that everyone adhered to, which was not to call on Hereford Hall unless it was a dire emergency.
Not that Nathanial would have been able to help with many emergencies before, other than personally lending his own muscle to a cause.
Which he had done a time or two.
But from the look of disapproval on Daniel’s face, whatever brought Mr. Galbraith here today, it was not an emergency.
The man owned one of the village’s dressmaker shops, which his wife ran.
Ah. He must be here to ascertain that Nathanial was now up to snuff before having his wife start on the dresses for the girls. No wonder Daniel was disapproving. He would be insulted at the implication, no matter that there was reason for it.
Nathanial was a little as well, but he hid it.
He could not blame a man for wanting to ensure he would be paid what he was owed.
There were plenty among the ton who took advantage of their position to keep from paying their bills for far longer than was conscionable, Nathanial’s own father included.
He was determined to take a different route, now that he could.
“Show him in.” He knew he sounded weary when he said the words, but it was more resignation that Mr. Galbraith would see more of the Hall than most had since Nathanial’s father’s demise.
Still, he could not go out to the foyer to greet the man.
Thankfully, it was a short walk from the front door to the study, so he would not see everything about how depilated the Hall had become.
At least Nathanial’s study was in good condition, thanks to the fact that his father had rarely used it, even before Nathanial’s mother’s death. Though if he had actually done some work in it, perhaps the family and the Hall would not have gotten into such a state.
No use in thinking of what ifs, though.
Nathanial stood as Daniel showed Mr. Galbraith into the room, wearing a finely tailored suit and holding a brown cap in his hand.
The man was much as Nathanial remembered him, although a little older now.
He’d not lost any hair, but there was grey showing at his temples and a few more lines on his face than before.
He’d served as Nathanial’s tailor when Nathanial was younger, while his wife ran the dressmakers that Nathanial’s mother had shopped at.
Theirs had been one of the first debts that Nathanial had paid off when he inherited, before he’d realized exactly how many his father had owed.
“Your Grace.” Mr. Galbraith bowed low before approaching Nathanial’s desk and standing in front of it.
Daniel remained in the doorway listening, and Nathanial did not bother to dismiss him.
Hopefully, this would be quick, then Daniel could show Mr. Galbraith back out. “It is good to see you home again.”
“Thank you, sir. Please, sit. What can I do for you today? I assume my sisters and wife visited Mrs. Galbraith.” That was a good lead-in for Mr. Galbraith to express any concerns about payment.
Nathanial would rather get straight to the point than dance around the subject, especially since he would actually be able to pay the man.
“Ah, yes, and I believe there was a misunderstanding between my wife and the new duchess.” Mr. Galbraith did not sit; rather, he wrung the hat he was holding in front of him, appearing rather agitated.
Nathanial blinked as he realized that whatever had brought Mr. Galbraith to his door, it was not concerns over being paid.
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes, I believe your wife misconstrued something Mrs. Galbraith said. It can be hard, you know, Your Grace, with someone unaccustomed to our ways.” Mr. Galbraith turned the brim of his hat between his fingers, spinning it like a wheel as he smiled earnestly, but his eyes were full of worry.
“What was it exactly that Mrs. Galbraith said?” Nathanial folded his hands in front of him, giving Mr. Galbraith a hard look. He would be questioning Julianna as soon as they got home, although she was just as likely to come running right to him if there had been any serious contretemps.
“Well, see, I don’ rightly know exactly what was said, Your Grace.
I twasn’t in the shop when the ladies visited, but Mrs. Galbraith was in a right state after they left.
She said the new duchess, ah, well, that the new duchess took insult to something she said and wouldna give her the chance to explain.
” The way he stumbled over his words and his demeanor pricked at Nathanial.
“What do you expect me to do about it?” he asked after a long moment, when it appeared that was all Mr. Galbraith had to say.
“Well, I was hoping you could talk to your duchess and sisters, see, Your Grace. Explain that my wife did not mean anything. We would hate to lose your custom, Your Grace, especially after all the work my wife did for the late duchess.” Mr. Galbraith had stopped spinning his cap, and now he clutched at it, digging his fingers in.
“My wife, you know, she was just surprised. No one knew you’d married and, well, I think she expected an English lady, you know? ”
Despite all the stumbles and roundabouts, Nathanial got the general idea of what Mr. Galbraith was saying.
He frowned at the man.
“I was not aware that I had an obligation to choose a bride based on your wife’s expectations, Sir.
” He knew his tone was icy, and it was not entirely Mr. Galbraith’s fault, but Nathanial was so damn tired of everyone’s expectations.
Especially because he now had a feeling that Mrs. Galbraith had very likely insulted his wife when they went to shop there, likely not realizing she was the new duchess.
“Of course not, of course not, Your Grace,” Mr. Galbraith said in a rush. “It just took her by surprise, you know, that you had not, and well, it’s been hard with all the foreigners taking up space in the village.”
Nathanial raised his eyebrow.
“You mean the foreigners who started businesses that have helped the village to grow? The ones who assisted with the harvest for trade, who we would not have been able to get all the harvest done without them?” Nathanial had been very happy to welcome new additions to the village, and they’d proven themselves time and time again to be nothing but beneficial.
“I do not recall you helping with the harvest, sir.”
“Ah, well, yes, bad back, you know…” Mr. Galbraith coughed. “I am not saying all of them, but there have been troublemakers, too, Your Grace. Like, when the Martins’ cows got into the hay field because the Dormer boys wanted to see what would happen, or so they say.”
“If I remember correctly, your boys let the Martins’ bull in with the Wainwrights’ cows when they were about the same age.”
“Oh, well.” Mr. Galbraith seemed at a loss for words at having his own sons compared to the Dormers. Yet of the two incidents, the consequences of letting the bull in among the dairy cows had been far more destructive. Either he’d forgotten or he had not conflated the two.
“Mr. Galbraith, where my wife and sisters choose to buy their dresses is their prerogative. If you think there was a misunderstanding between your wife and mine, that is something that is best handled between them. I cannot, and I will not, try to force my wife to use a particular dressmaker, no matter that she used to make dresses for my mother.” Nathanial spoke crisply, laying out the matter as he saw it and giving Mr. Galbraith no room to interrupt or try to explain further.
“I am sure I can count on you to make my wife feel welcome in her new home. When the opportunity arises and Mrs. Galbraith can apologize for the misunderstanding.”
“Ah… yes.” From the way Mr. Galbraith’s expression had fallen, that was not quite the response he’d been hoping for. He knew that he’d been dismissed, though, and bowed. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Daniel will see you out.” He glanced back at where Daniel was in the doorway and gave him a little nod. Daniel would know that meant Nathanial wanted him to return to the study afterward.
It did not take Daniel long to return. Nathanial was leaning back in his chair, thinking, when the other man came in. He gestured at the leather wingbacks in front of his desk, offering one to Daniel, who took the one on the left.
“So. What do you think?”
Daniel snorted, shaking his head. Unlike Mr. Galbraith, he didn’t pepper his speech with Nathanial’s title, as he’d long had permission to speak freely with Nathanial.
“I think Mrs. Galbraith probably let her views on foreigners drop in front of your duchess, likely insulted her to boot, and then had another two thoughts about it when she finally realized all the lost commissions the duchess represented. If there’s one thing the Galbraiths care more about than the ‘foreign invasion,’ it’s their till. ”
“The foreign invasion?” That was a new one to Nathanial.
“There are just a few who call it that. Most of us are grateful for the new blood. There’s been no more trouble than what our boys usually cause, but of course those like the Galbraiths grumbled three times as much about it while pretending their own are angels.
” Daniel snorted again, making his opinion on that matter clear.
“Anything I should be worried about? Especially when it comes to ensuring my wife faces no more attitudes like the Galbraiths?”
“Nah, Your Grace, no need to worry. Like I said, most of us know what’s what.
It’s done us far more good than bad, and the bad has not been truly bad.
Just youthful mischief. Honestly, we’d all rather keep them than the Galbraiths.
Like you said, he didn’t lift a finger to help with the harvest.” Daniel chuckled.
“Is there another dressmaker available?” Nathanial thought he remembered there being one, but he was not entirely sure.
Thankfully, Daniel nodded.
“Mrs. Collins will have them handled. And the Galbraiths cannot even complain overly much. Mrs. Collins used to be Abigail Pritchard.” Daniel grinned.
Nathanial vaguely remembered the Pritchards and their daughter from his childhood, when he’d visited the village far more often.
It was good that she’d come back. And, as an Englishwoman and a former local, she probably got under the Galbraiths’ skin more than if she’d been from outside of the country, giving them less of an excuse to complain about a competing shop.
“That’s good. Thank you, Daniel. Now. Let’s talk about hiring.
” Which would certainly include quite a few people in the village, likely many whom Mr. Galbraith would find objectionable.
Which was just fine with Nathanial. Without them, and without the dukedom’s backing, the village could just as easily have died out.
Now that he had the money to give more support to the village, that included those who had saved it. No, they had not lived here for generations, but they would for generations to come if he had anything to say about it.
Just like his family.
By the time he and Daniel were done talking through the possible local hires and had made a list of positions they would still need to fill, he heard the sound of the ladies returning.
It was hard to miss since Fiona came into the house shrieking his name—only the joy in her voice kept him from jumping up and panicking.
Exchanging an amused glance with Daniel, he got to his feet and went to greet his sisters.
He had not realized how much he would enjoy seeing them properly outfitted. His wife hung back, allowing his sisters to have their moment under his gaze. Fiona was dancing around with pure happiness, Julianna was beaming, and even Emma was standing a little straighter and preening.
Though the gowns were not perfectly fitted to them, they were more than acceptable for general day dresses around the Hall. They looked more like sisters of a duke now.
“Beautiful,” he said as Fiona twirled for him, smiling widely at her.
“Thank you! I am glad we got them from Mrs. Collins. Mrs. Galbraith was mean.” Fiona twirled again as Nathanial blinked. “I’m going to go show Telemachus!”
Before he could respond, she’d run off again. He looked over at the others. Emma was saying something to his wife, so he did not think they’d heard what Fiona had said, but Julianna obviously had. She made a face.
“I’m glad you all had such a good outing,” he said, tilting his head in the direction of his study. “Julianna, can I speak with you for a minute?”
Neither his wife nor Emma seemed to see anything amiss with his request as they glanced up to smile at Julianna. He led his sister down the hall, very curious as to what she would have to say.
By the time she’d finished her recounting of the day, Nathanial was fuming and wishing he’d gotten the full story before Mr. Galbraith had had the temerity to appear at his door. If he’d known…
Well. It seemed his wife had handled the situation on her own, and he had been smart enough to see through Mr. Galbraith’s hedging. If the Galbraiths wanted the support of the Hereford Duke and Duchess, they were going to need to apologize abjectly.
And Nathanial would do what he could to help the attitudes of anyone else in the village who needed a correction.
No one was going to be allowed to disrespect his wife.