Matt looked at the clock. “In about an hour. If you do not object, I will first ask what he knows about the operation and ask for the contract and any other relevant documents.”

“That is a good idea.” She wished she could accompany Matt to her uncle’s house, but he had a plan and they would stick to it. Eleanor rose. “If that is all, I should be going.”

A light tap sounded on the door and Grace strolled in. “Good day. Eleanor, are you going riding with Lord Montagu this afternoon?”

Riding with Montagu? “I did not know he had asked me.”

Grace pressed her lips together. “I knew I should have told you myself. He wrote yesterday. I read his invitation and put it in your correspondence.”

Eleanor thought about the short stack of letters on her desk. “Do you think it is too late to send an answer?”

“Not if he really wants to spend time with you.” Matt grinned. “And you want his company.”

She smiled back. “A ride would be nice.”

A short while later, she wrote to Montagu.

Dear Lord Montagu,

I am sorry for this late response. I did not know you had written until my sister told me. I would be happy to accompany you this afternoon.

Yours sincerely,
E. Carpenter

Eleanor read over the missive. It was good enough for now. She sanded and sealed it. She thought about sending it down but decided to have Turner take it. The response was already late enough.

She gave the bell-pull two tugs, and a few minutes later he arrived. “Please take this to Montagu House.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

This had been a productive day thus far. Eleanor was glad Matt had been as confused about Montagu’s deception as she. It really was quite strange, and she hoped he had a satisfactory answer when she approached him about it. Until then, she would carry on with determining if he was the right gentleman for her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE