Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,53
the darlings, laughing at their delighted squeals.
***
Luke shook hands with Mr. Ogden, his steward, at the conclusion of the man’s detailed description of the tenants’ living conditions. He had been relieved when his man had chosen to provide a verbal accounting instead of handing over a book for him to read.
“You may expect digging to begin on the new well as soon as possible, Mr. Ogden. I will summon a surveyor at once to determine the best location.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“In the meantime, you may draw water from the well at Twinspur. No one is to use the other. Close it off today.”
The steward bobbed his head. “Yes, sir.”
Luke didn’t understand his brother’s delay in seeing to the project. The well was running dry, and the remaining water might be contaminated, given the five cases of stomach ailments. He was grateful the outbreak did not appear to be cholera. In all instances, the tenants recovered, but he didn’t want to take any more risks. There was no telling how the illness would affect a young child or elder.
How many other needs had gone unmet this past year? Richard had been assisting Father with overseeing the lands for ages, and he had stepped into their sire’s shoes upon his death, managing their wealth and settling accounts when Luke hadn’t seized control. Luke had been caring for his mother and sisters at the family home, but now he realized the inadequacy of his excuse. He had neglected many other people who relied on him. He may have trusted his brother to manage everything, but Luke should have been more engaged in the welfare of his tenants.
As he and Mr. Ogden left the cottage, he spotted Drew and George, their childhood playmate, with George’s mother. Vivian, however, was missing. He scanned the area, his heart skipping a beat when she wasn’t within sight, before he chided himself for behaving like a nervous grandmother. Vivian may have a tendency to get into trouble, but there was no danger here.
“Where has Lady Vivian hied off to?” he asked as he approached.
One of the women pointed down the lane. “She and the children were last seen walking that way, Your Grace.”
Luke checked his watch. “We had best retrieve her. Mrs. Dillingham is planning luncheon, and if memory serves, she likes everything to run on a precise schedule.”
He was eager to tell Vivian about his conversation with Mr. Ogden. It was the first time he’d felt competent in a long while.
Luke had been a good student before his accident and taken his abilities for granted. His later struggles in the classroom had shaken him; his concentration had vanished. Everything seemed to rile his temper at that time, too, and he’d wound up in several rounds of fisticuffs. It was no telling how many fights he would have fought if his brother, Richard, hadn’t informed their father of his troubles.
Luke had been summoned home. His father hadn’t wanted to believe his difficulties were real, and he’d pushed Luke to prove that he could still do what would be required of him. He failed the tasks time and again, growing more devastated each time his father looked at him in despair. Eventually, his father sent him to the continent for his grand tour. He thought Luke would find himself again, but a year later, Luke knew the truth. He had regained his concentration and his rages disappeared, but he would never be the same. Nevertheless, today had gone well. He wanted to celebrate his small victory with Vivian, even if she wouldn’t understand the significance.
Drew and George fell into step with Luke on the lane as he went in search of Vivian. As they neared the fifth cottage, a loud screech made his heart spasm. “Vivian?”
He broke into a run and rounded the house, but came up short.
For the love of God.
Vivian was on her hands and knees, her head wedged under a back porch. Half the children were also on the ground, peering beneath the structure. A chit ran by, chasing a boy twice her size. When she tossed a limp worm at the boy, he let loose a high-pitched scream. Drew and George caught up to Luke and froze. Vivian’s derriere wiggled as she lowered to her elbows and tried to crawl farther under the porch.
“It’s all right, little one. No one is going to hurt you,” she cooed.
One of the boys lowered to his belly, too. “He’s right there, Lady Vivian. You almost have him.”