Before The Scandal by Suzanne Enoch Read Free Book Online Page B

He did know, but that was only because Alyse had told him. And now that he’d identified himself as a Bromley, he had to behave in a relatively civilized manner. That could be a problem, and not just here. If Beth was unwilling to be communicative, he could only imagine what he might face with the rest of the citizenry. “I only ask because you seem to be talking rather than working.”
    “Tell that to bloody Mr. Stuggley there.” The fellow gestured at the still angry-looking man on horseback on the far side of the stream.
    The name was familiar, and unusual enough that Phineas was willing to risk being in error. “Stuggley,” he repeated aloud. “Not John Stuggley.”
    The tall man’s expression eased a little. “The same, Colonel Bromley. My father retired a year ago now. I’ve been seeing to the stewardship of Roesglen since.”
    A few years older than William, John Stuggley hadn’t been part of the Bromley circle of friends. His father had been well respected by the Marquis of Roesglen, and Roesglen had been close friends with the former Viscount Quence, Phin’s father. A rather roundabout connection, but Phineas felt more inclined to listen to him than to the sullen Brown.
    “Perhaps you could enlighten me, then, Mr. Stuggley,” he said. “What’s the difficulty here?”
    “The difficulty is that if a new irrigation dam goes in here, it might save the Quence east pasture, but the backed-up water would flood the Roesglen north pasture and overflow the fish pond. Lord Roesglen wouldn’t take the news of the demise of his favorite fishing pond well at all.”
    “This stream is on Quence land,” Brown countered. “And Lord Donnelly says the dam goes here.”
    “This is robbery, sir,” Stuggley snapped. “You will set Roesglen and Quence at odds.”
    Phineas took in their wet surroundings and the Roesglen land off to the northeast in the distance. “What kept this pasture from flooding before?” he asked, wishing he’d paid more attention to land management in his youth. That had been William’s duty, though. He’d had other interests.
    “The old dam half a mile upstream, just south of the east tributary,” Stuggley said promptly. “It collapsed a fortnight ago.”
    “Then perhaps the new dam should stand where the old one did,” Phineas stated. “It did serve for better than twenty years.”
    “Lord Donnelly already decided against that.” Brown spat again, just missing Daffodil’s near hoof.
    “Another day won’t make any difference. Stuggley, do you have a terrain map of the property?”
    “Aye.”
    “Bring it by Quence in the morning, will you?”
    “Of course.” The steward glanced in the direction of the workers.
    “And you lot,” Phineas continued, “go home.”
    “What about our wages? We ain’t mucking about here for nothin’.”
    Phin lifted an eyebrow, but kept his voice even. “See Lord Donnelly. He hired you.”
    “Damned soldier’s got a ramrod up ’is arse,” Brown sneered.
    If Phineas hadn’t had the uniform on, if he didn’t have William’s reputation currently in his hands, he would have been quite willing to show Brown just how flexible he could be where legalities were concerned. He’d never wanted to be two separate people so badly before.
    Riding away at a brisk trot would have put a good period to the conversation, but Daffodil falling down dead in the mud would not. He needed a more sound damned mount. As he clucked at the mare and turned her around, he caught Stuggley’s grateful look. At least someone appreciated his presence.
    He slogged out of the pasture and rode back to the broad white manor house. The flooded pasture was ill luck enough. But the way Donnelly had chosen to resolve the matter troubled him even more. With one carelessly designed and easily prevented dam mistake, the viscount might have set two allied families at odds. And since Donnelly had shifted the dam from its original location, Phineas had to wonder whether it could