Free Buried Secrets by Anne Barbour

attention.’ I sent him on his way, of course, telling him that’s what he’s paid for—to spare my immediate attention, but he keeps turning up, usually with some project in mind that will improve the estate and create prosperity for one and all.”
    “But he would be remiss in his duty if he did not seek ways to increase the estate’s productivity.”
    Cord found the expression of mild disapproval on Gillian’s face irritating. “Good God!” he exclaimed. “I pay the fellow well, and he seems to know what he’s doing. Why can’t he just go off and do what he does without bothering me?”
    Gillian’s eyes widened, but before she could respond, Mr. Jilbert was upon them.
    “My lord!” he said rather breathlessly, “I am glad I caught you.”
    Mr. Jilbert was a small man in his early fifties. When he removed his hat, a thatch of thinning brown hair was revealed. His eyes were an unremarkable brown and partially obscured by a pair of large, thick spectacles that he wore pressed firmly against the bridge of a long, thin nose. He passed his hand over his hair as he nodded respectfully to Cord and Gillian.
    Cord sighed. “What is it, Jilbert?”
    “It’s about the tenants’ cottages. I believe I mentioned this to your lordship before, but now the matter has become critical. As you have probably observed, the ground is very damp.”
    “Yes?” Cord replied unencouragingly.
    “That’s because, though today is fine, we’ve had a lot of rainfall this spring. As you know, the tenants’ cottages were built in a low spot. This should have been remedied years ago,” he added somewhat severely, then continued hastily, noting the earl’s growing signs of impatience. “Now the road between the cottages and the fields has become almost impassable. In addition, the river flows close to the cottages, and it has become swollen. I am fearful of flooding. I have instructed the men to erect a barrier of sandbags.”
    “Well—that should take care of the problem, shouldn’t it?” Lord, thought Cord, why did the man keep nattering on? This encounter was coming close to spoiling his idyllic afternoon with the lovely Miss Tate.
    “Temporarily, my lord,” said Mr. Jilbert, stolidly persevering. “However, it has become necessary to create a more permanent barrier.”
    “Then do it, man.” Cord could hear his voice rising irascibly, but he didn’t care. He hated this sort of thing, and the sooner Jilbert became aware of that fact the better.
    “But it will mean a great deal of expense, my lord.”
    “Surely not beyond my means, however?” He raised his riding stick to tap his boot.
    “N-no, my lord, but a project of this magnitude is surely something that should be discussed—”
    “No, it should not,” snapped Cord. “I hereby give you carte blanche to do whatever the devil is necessary for your little ‘project.’ If you cannot manage without consulting me at every turn, Jilbert, perhaps you should seek employment elsewhere.”
    Jilbert paled. “No, my lord! That is ... yes, my lord. I did not mean—” His glance darted to Gillian and back to Cord. “I shall, er, take my leave, my lord.”
    Cord merely nodded as Mr. Jilbert clapped his hat to his head and, wheeling his horse about, clattered off.
    At his side, Gillian simply stared at him. Good Lord, even for an idle peer of the realm, Cord’s behavior had been quite rude. And, even from her short acquaintance with him, seemed completely out of character. Why, he had nearly bitten poor Mr. Jilbert’s head off, when the man had only been doing his job. Was Cord so addicted to a life of idleness that he could not bear the slightest interference in his pleasures?
    Cord glanced at her, and, as though aware of the character flaw he had revealed, he flushed.
    “I’m afraid I was rather harsh with the fellow.”
    Gillian could not but agree. She nodded gravely. “Yes, you were.”
    Cord smiled disarmingly. “I shall apologize the next time we meet. I