Chapter 12 #2
“I see. Thank you for your honesty. You may go. If you don’t hear of any action straight away, don’t be alarmed. I need to start by gathering information, but my family will be setting things right—including reducing your workload back to a more manageable level.”
She bobbed a curtsy and thanked him, her eyes shining with hope. Clearly Hannah trusted his words. She believed that the royal family would deal with the problem—further confirmation that this wasn’t a habitual problem in the Lanoverian palace.
When the door closed behind her, Leo looked at the silent guard and the two clerks, his face stern.
“You were all selected for your record of discretion, and I trust you’ll use that discretion now.
We can’t have any leaks regarding the source of our information.
People will know Hannah was summoned for an interview, but I intend to interview many people over the coming week, and I won’t allow any stories to circulate about who reported what. ”
All three nodded.
“Please return after lunch for the next interview,” he told them, and they filed from the room, leaving behind the records the clerks had transcribed.
As soon as Rose and Leo were alone, Leo sighed, and leaned back in his chair. “It’s going to have to end in the dismissal of the steward. I can see that already. But I can’t do that in my parents’ absence without thorough records and multiple consistent accounts.”
“What will you do about the people he brought with him?” Rose asked.
Leo ran a hand over his face. “They’ll probably have to go, too. It’s clear they’re causing trouble.”
Rose hesitated. “It certainly sounds like some—possibly even most—are doing so. But you can’t dismiss people only because of association.”
Leo groaned. “You’re right, of course. But Hannah gave us plenty of names, and I’m sure more will come out in the interviews that are still to come. We can limit dismissals to those who are named.”
“And what if someone names someone else out of jealousy or spite? Are we going to hold criminal investigations to prove the claims?”
Leo’s frown deepened, revealing the hints of tiredness on his face.
But Rose couldn’t let the issue go. As a child, she had stuck close to her brother as much as possible, including joining him in the training given direct heirs.
Their grandfather had always stressed the necessity to act with utmost fairness whenever possible.
Resentments can build and fester, he used to say.
And if the abscess grows big enough, it will destroy a kingdom.
“Do you really think criminal investigations are the answer?” Leo’s tone told her he didn’t agree, but he waited to hear her response.
She shook her head. “The palace is already unsettled. You’re working to reduce the chaos and restore order, but a host of petty investigations—most of which will struggle to find definitive evidence—will only make everything even more unsettled.”
“So you would choose to dismiss only the steward?” Leo watched her with curiosity, as if he was trying to puzzle out her thoughts.
“I would start with him. He’s responsible for the overall running of the palace and the well-being of all the staff under his care.”
“And I’m in authority over him,” Leo said. “You could argue that I’m the one who’s truly responsible. Do you think I should step down too? Or my father, perhaps?”
“You’re forgetting one very important difference.
You didn’t know what was going on, and the moment it was brought to your attention, you acted.
Your steward, on the other hand, has done the opposite.
He was the one to actively foster the harmful culture, and Hannah herself reported bringing it to his attention.
He did nothing. He is the one who holds responsibility for what’s happened, not you. ”
“And you think dismissing him will be enough?”
Rose shrugged. “Probably not. But if you choose his replacement carefully, and install a temporary housekeeper until Mrs. Frost recovers, they can make it clear what sort of behavior is expected among the servants—and what behavior will not be tolerated. Make it clear to every servant—down to the newest scullery maid—that they can go directly to the housekeeper or steward with any complaints.”
Leo grinned wryly. “They would be inundated.”
Rose reluctantly smiled. “Probably. But if every accusation is investigated, it would soon discourage frivolous complaints. There are almost certainly some among the servants who have been encouraged in bullying behavior under the current steward but who would modify their actions to meet the new standards rather than put their positions at risk. Those who can’t—or won’t—exercise restraint can be weeded out after the steward has left, using complaints that are fresh and easier to investigate. ”
She narrowed her eyes, considering. “If I were in your place, I would probably assign a team of dedicated investigators—people with relevant skill and experience—who could follow up any complaints under the direction of the housekeeper and steward. They’ll be kept busy at the beginning, most likely, but as the old culture is reestablished and any troublemakers are weeded out, complaints should die back down to a normal level.
Some people adapt themselves to whatever culture surrounds them.
Even if they have behaved poorly in the past, they might never make trouble again. ”
“And you think they should go unpunished for their past behavior?”
Rose sighed. “In an ideal world, perhaps not. But removing a large number of servants at once will hugely increase the workload of the ones who remain. You would end up punishing the innocent as well.”
Leo shook his head. “How much time did you say you’ve spent with Queen Gwen?”
Rose’s eyes widened. She had completely forgotten her role as Natalie.
Thankfully the question seemed to be rhetorical, however, as he continued without waiting for an answer. “I knew it was a good idea to include you. You already understand the situation so clearly after only one interview. You must have plenty of experience with how palaces operate.”
Silence seemed the safest option, so Rose kept her mouth shut.
“Will you sit in on the rest of the interviews?” Leo asked.
“I’d like to,” Rose said. “If you’re sure it’s all right for me to be here. I’m not from Lanover.”
Leo smiled at her. “Maybe not, but I trust you. And it’s good to have an outside perspective.” His expression turned wry. “And you’re the one who brought the problem to my attention—it’s a little late to hide Lanover’s weak underbelly from you.”
“Did you get any sleep last night?” Rose asked, unable to help herself. “Maybe you should rest before the next interview begins.”
Leo laughed, but it wasn’t a humorous sound.
“A bit of exhaustion is no more than I deserve. There may not have been a report from Hannah on my desk, but there was one from the stable master. He’s been in his position even longer than the old steward and taught me to ride my first pony, so he had the confidence to contact me directly.
But when I saw his name, I prioritized it to the bottom of the pile, thinking any issue with the stables could wait for my parents’ return if necessary. ”
“A ruler doesn’t always make the right decisions,” Rose said, repeating another of her grandfather’s favorite sayings, “but his true measure is shown in how quickly he acknowledges and rectifies his mistakes.”
Leo’s face softened, and he smiled. “You’re more gracious to me than I deserve, Posey.”
“Or maybe you’re harsher on yourself than you deserve,” she responded promptly, and he laughed.
“Perhaps.” He glanced at her. “I actually ordered lunch to be delivered here. You’ll join me?”
Rose hesitated only a moment before nodding. They could talk strategy while they ate, so it was really only an extension of the meeting. Refusing would be silly.