The Duke Wrote Ten Rules for the Wife He Would Choose — She Broke Every One Before the Hunt Ball
Chapter 5
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By the third day, she had found the coal: 140 tons paid for in a twelvemonth; 96 tons on the carter's tickets, bundled in a drawer with a dead mouse; 44 tons never seen, at 28 shillings a ton.She took it down to the housekeeper's room. The eighth rule was that she should not be familiar with servants. Mrs. Corbold gave her tea in a cup with a chip in it."Are you here to accuse anybody, miss?""Only Mr. Godwin.""Then you'll have a slice of the seedcake."They went through the household books together, the housekeeper reading slowly with her finger. When they reached the coal, she put down her cup."I've had the maids carrying cold water to the bedrooms two winters to save fuel," she said, "and he's been selling it out of the yard." She looked at Rosamund for a long time. "You've a better head for this than any steward I've known, miss, and I've known five."It was the first time in eight years anyone had said it aloud; Rosamund could think of no reply at all.The seventh rule was that she should not interfere with the household. By that evening, the coal was under lock in the hall's own coal house, and the key was on Mrs. Corbold's ring.On the fifth morning, the Duke sent for Mr. Godwin. Rosamund was in the office when the bailiff came in, and the Duke nodded her back to her chair.Mr. Silas Godwin was 50, broad and pink in a brown coat with brass buttons bought with somebody else's oats."12 horses, Godwin," said the Duke."Your Grace?""I keep 28 hunters. You have been feeding 40. I should like to meet the other 12."The bailiff's eyes went to Rosamund. "That woman has been at my books.""That woman is Miss Penrose, at my request. They are my books. You have been at them for six years.""There is some error in the arithmetic, Your Grace.""There is," said Rosamund. "You charged the beans at the summer price all winter. That is another £31."The Duke set a sheet of paper on the desk in her own small, upright hand:Over three years, £1,398."You will be gone by tonight," he said.The bailiff went. He did not shut the door."You said you would keep my name out of it," said Rosamund."I said you were here at my request. That is true. I did not say what you found.""He will tell my aunt.""Very likely." He put a small leather purse on the desk beside her figures. "20 guineas. Half. The rest when the books are done."He went out; he did shut the door.He stood a long time in the stable court afterwards with his hand on Abbott's neck. He had read her sheet of figures twice before he went in to Godwin. At the bottom, under the total, she had written one line and underlined it:12 horses that do not exist.He had laughed aloud when he read it alone in the office, and the sound had startled him so badly that he had looked round to see who had made it.