Love Unseen by Rachel Kelley Stones

Author:Rachel Kelley Stones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2023-05-04T22:48:22+00:00

Chapter 20

Jonathan

I tallied the column again, checking my work. Finished, I tossed the pen onto the desk and sat back in my chair. Old estate ledgers lay scattered across the desktop. Reviewing the records was tedious but necessary to return the land to full, and hopefully profitable, operation. Mr. Roberts, my steward, would be arriving later in the afternoon to review potential investments and improvements that could be made to the property in an effort to increase its sustainability. And at some point, I expected James Hadley.

“Jonathan,” Isabella’s voice came at the door.

“Come in.”

“A note has just arrived for you from Fulton Manor.”

She extended the bit of paper to me, and I ripped it open.

My eyes narrowed as I scanned the words clearly written in haste.

“What does it say?” Isabella asked, and I raised my eyes to meet my sister’s curious ones.

“Mr. Hadley regrets that a family obligation prevents him from calling on me today. He left the area at first light. He will call on me when he returns.” I opened a drawer and chucked the letter in, shutting it with a light bang. He did not say when he would return. Tomorrow? A week? A fortnight? My timeline was now at his mercy. I pushed back roughly from the desk. I did not like my plans being disrupted.

“What will you do now?” Bella settled herself on a chair facing my desk, her brows pulled together.

“Wait.” I tapped my knuckles against the wood. “I will call on Hannah, but until Mr. Hadley returns, I do not wish to issue the invitation. If I posed it to Mrs. Hadley, I’m certain we’d get saddled with Julia Hadley instead.” Standing, I picked up the jacket I had slung across the back of the chair and shrugged into it. “Would you care to join me for a quick visit to Fulton Manor? I also plan to stop in at the vicarage.”

“I’d be delighted,” she said. “Cook helped me make a basket for the Smiths. Give me five minutes to grab it.” She stood and walked to the door.

I smiled at her, thankful for her support. “I’ll give you ten. It’ll take at least that long to get the carriage ready,” I said, following her out. “Henderson,” I stopped the butler on my way. “If Mr. Roberts stops in, tell him to expect me no later than two. He can wait in my study or the library if he prefers.” Having doled out my instructions, I made for the stables.

“Sir,” Carson, a stablehand, greeted me when I entered the dimly lit building.

“I need the carriage readied.” I could have passed the message along with a house servant, but I thought to speed the process.

“Certainly.” Carson began the preparations, and I followed to lend a hand. A few weeks ago, the servants would have protested or eyed me warily, but they had learned quickly enough. Idleness was not in my nature. We led the matched bays into position and fitted their harnesses securely, tightening the straps.

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