Another guest nodded approvingly. "Your management has been impressive."
Lord Carter smiled. "Thank you."
Not once did he mention his daughter. Not once.
Nathaniel stood motionless outside the room. Perhaps he had misunderstood. Perhaps Genevieve preferred staying out of public discussions. Then another voice spoke.
"I heard Miss Carter was involved."
An uncomfortable silence followed. Nathaniel immediately paid closer attention.
Lord Carter cleared his throat. "Genevieve enjoys involving herself in estate matters."
The phrasing bothered him instantly. Enjoys involving herself—as though her work were a hobby rather than the foundation keeping the estate functional. The conversation moved on. Nathaniel remained in the hallway for several seconds before continuing toward the records office. His mood darkened considerably.
That evening, he found Samuel cleaning tack inside the stable. "Can I ask something?"
The older man glanced up. "You just did."
Nathaniel ignored the joke. "Does Lord Carter always take credit for Genevieve's work?"
Samuel snorted. "You noticed that, too."
"So, the answer is yes?"
"Mostly." Samuel adjusted a leather strap. "Miss Carter solves problems. Lord Carter attends meetings."
Nathaniel frowned. "And nobody says anything?"
"Some of us do." Samuel shrugged. "Nobody important listens."
The answer left a bitter taste in Nathaniel's mouth.
The next day offered another example. Carter Estate hosted a luncheon for several neighboring families. Guests filled the gardens behind the manor. Tables overflowed with food. Laughter drifted through the afternoon air. Nathaniel spent most of the event assisting stable staff. Still, he remained close enough to observe.
Genevieve moved through the gathering with polite professionalism: she greeted guests, answered questions, and helped elderly visitors navigate uneven pathways. She seemed to know everyone's name. Yet, something felt strange: the more she contributed, the less recognition she received.
The contrast became impossible to ignore when Victoria Sinclair arrived. Nathaniel recognized her immediately: tall, elegant, beautiful. Her smile dazzled nearly everyone she encountered. At first glance, she appeared charming. Then Nathaniel watched her more carefully. Victoria possessed a talent for subtle cruelty: she complimented people while quietly diminishing someone else; she redirected conversations toward herself; she planted ideas without appearing responsible for them. Most guests never noticed. Nathaniel did.
During one conversation, a visiting woman praised improvements to the estate's crop yields. "The harvest reports have been remarkable."
Victoria smiled pleasantly. "Genevieve certainly enjoys pretending she is a farmer." Several guests laughed. The comment sounded harmless; it was not. Nathaniel noticed Genevieve standing only a few feet away. She heard every word. Her smile never faltered. Neither did Victoria's.
Later, another guest admired the newly repaired tenant cottages. "Someone has clearly invested significant effort."