A few years ago, he would now be rushing off to the nearest friend for entertainment and mischief. But life was changing—his friends were changing. And really, the joy he’d found in a drunken night with friends had passed them all. Neither did he want to just sit there and mope either. He wasn’t in his dotage just yet.
Perhaps he should see to his business ventures. They always thrived with more attention rather than less. His thoughts turned to Eliza Hennington and her business. He respected her for what she’d built. Quite a remarkable woman. And he wondered what she was doing. Each month, she paid the rent diligently, never failing on a payment. The kind of tenant every building owner wished for.
Contrary to what most men thought, women actually had a good head for business. Perhaps not all of them, but the few he’d met tended to know their business very well. Probably because they had to. There had to be a hardness to them. Most likely, they were doubted by others, and bamboozled by some trying to take advantage of them. Women were more wily than many presumed, and Finn enjoyed this trait considerably.
No, maybe it was time to spend some months in London. There was, after all, no company of wily women to have here at Wilkeston House. It might not be drunken nights he was after, but he sought a new place in society, one he didn’t entirely understand. Meeting Eliza had ignited something, but there was an excitement in him about it. What it meant, and where it would lead, he wasn’t entirely sure. Perhaps even marriage.
Had he reached that point? Was this what the urge in him was? All the things he’d rejected, the things people had so desperately tried to push on him. It would be his own desire that would undo him in the end. Who would have thought? No, maybe no, but he did seek more mature company. That was what it was.
“Mr. Fuller?” he called, knowing the man wouldn’t be far away. Sure enough, he appeared. “I am thinking I might take a trip to town.”
“A trip, my lord?”
“I dare to say it, but I might attend the season this year.”
“My lord,” Fuller said in surprised acknowledgment.
“But I am concerned about the house. Actually, I have some concerns about the roof. I think there are some patches that may leak. My concerns aren’t grave enough to suggest action needs to be taken just yet, but I think we need to monitor the situation quite closely as the autumn deepens.”
“I wasn’t aware there were issues with the roof. Should I call someone to come assess it?”
“I think we’ll wait to do our own assessment this autumn and winter. If we keep an eye on the attic, we should see any ingress of water. It would be helpful to do a proper survey of where any moisture comes in, so we know exactly where repairs need to be made.”
Obviously, this could be done by a professional, and there weren’t any significant issues with the roof that he knew of. “This is obviously very important,” Finn continued. “So I’m torn by taking you with me to London,” for which the trials and tribulations would be strenuous for a man of Mr. Fuller’s age, “and keeping you here to perform this crucial work. If we don’t do this well, the financial hit for the estate could be devastating.”
“You can of course depend on me,” Mr. Fuller said with his typical solemnity.
“I know I can. You are, of course, invaluable to the estate. So perhaps it’s best that I forgo the comfort of your attendance this upcoming season. It is a sacrifice, but it must be borne.”
If Mr. Fuller knew what he was doing, he didn’t give any indication. Having the man stay here would be a much calmer time for him, even with regular tours of the attic. Well, it was the best he could think of for a plausible task crucial enough to keep the man here. Taking him to London, with the constant activity of the season, would exhaust him, maybe even dispatch him. It felt too cruel to force him into retirement. Since he’d been a young lad, Mr. Fuller had been in service to this estate. He knew nothing else. The trick was to reduce his duties without injuring his sense of honor.
“But if you would prepare my trunk, I would be much obliged.”
“Of course, my lord.”
Maybe Finn had been a little spoilt, because Mr. Fuller knew everything that needed doing. His skill and willingness weren’t in doubt, but his body was increasingly failing him. Maybe Finn should have thought of a task that hadn’t involved so many stairs, but he wasn’t sure Mr. Fuller would believe it if it was too easy.
*
Rain set in as Finn traveled to London. It made for a slow and difficult journey, but it couldn’t be helped. Travel was never a pleasant endeavor, but the closer they got, the better the roads were.
The townhouse hadn’t been opened, as his decision to come to town had been a quick one. Sheets covered the furniture and Mr. Walters, one of the footmen, was the one tasked with opening the house that smelled of stale air and dust. The windows were all opened, even as it was late. Finn didn’t mind the cool air sweeping through the house. Clean air was worth this short inconvenience. If it bothered him, he should have had the foresight to send someone ahead to open the house.
In fact, Finn took himself
