He gazed at her levelly as he continued to play the romantic Bach piece. "I think it was very kind of you. A bit impetuous perhaps, but well meant. Since he is going away now, there hardly seems any harm. It might be some time before he returns. I will be happy to go over things in the meantime to help get them ready for his custodianship.
"Once he does return, I would merely caution you to ensure you have a chaperone, and to make sure he is not brought too far into the family circle if you do not have any intention of your relations becoming anything other than employer and steward."
Pamela looked directly into his gray eyes. "I do not intend anything more than that, truly. I was thinking only of Bertie when I made the offer, and Mr. Cavendish's own unfortunate lack of a home or family with any appropriate feeling. I know men flock about me for my fortune, but he seems, well, different somehow. A friend, not a beau.
"I know you say he comes from a family of rakes and libertines, but I did not find his manner the least bit objectionable. In fact, he was so humble, his conversation was so much better than I'm accustomed to, apart from you good self, of course, that I can only think the rumors were spread about him by his own family. There seems to be no love lost there, after all."
"True enough," Jonathan conceded. "And I would be the first to caution you against believing everything you hear." He paused for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. There is some time yet before Bath, so we can spend a day going over your affairs to ensure that they are settled before we depart. And I will do the same when we get back."
"Thank you, that's very kind."
"But Gareth is going away, and things must not be neglected any longer."
She nodded. "Precisely."
"So the solicitors should set a regular schedule for coming down," he advised. "If it is not convenient for them, they might be kind enough to suggest someone local who would be able to look in on things and report appropriately. Your steward is far too old, and should be allowed to take on a young helper until Mr. Cavendish can fill the post. And you should keep an eye on the steward in the meantime. I fear he is doting, and you need to know where everything is when he finally takes retirement."
She nodded. "Very sound advice. Thank you. I shall be most grateful for all your help, and shall take steps to find an apt pupil for him. I think the eldest Miller lad might do well, if he is good at sums."
Jonathan's eyes lit up. "Yes, he or the second one down, Jed, who is very good at school, and takes a much more keen interest in his studies. Particularly maths."
"There, that's settled then. Thank you."
"Not quite. Once again, please allow me to say I'm sorry I spoke so hastily. It was unworthy of me. I can see you love you family, but have had little joy of them, just like Gareth. It was your empathy and kind heart which prompted you to act as you did."
She drew closer to him as he continued to play the Bach air. "Well, with Father gone, it just isn't the same for me in my own home any longer. I feel so at a loss all the time, and wish for the old days when things ran more smoothly. I will admit that my ridiculous pursuit of continuous novelty was as much about amusing myself as getting away from the Manor.
"And yes, I admit I do agree with your Radical ideas now that I've had time to give them due consideration. It seems most unfair that a woman is not considered fit to administer her own interests, to own property. And were I to marry, I would be at the mercy of my husband, would I not?"
He quickly suppressed his rising alarm at the thought. "That is the common way of things, Miss Ashton, unless you were to take steps in a pre-nuptial agreement to ensure that you maintained some control."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Not that I intend to marry in the near future, but it pays to guard against hasty decisions. I keep thinking of that poor woman in the novel Maria, so dependent upon her husband for everything. I should not like to suffer."
"I hope you shall not, by choosing wisely in the first place, and negotiating appropriate terms in the second."
She raised her brows. "Terms? You make it sound like a battle."
He sighed. "It can be, alas. Marriage is the most important relationship a woman will ever share apart from with her children. Even then they can be cruel, neglectful. There will come a time when you and Aunt Bledsoe will be in your home at Bertie's sufferance. He is young, but not that young. In a few years--"
Pamela gave an impatient toss of her head. "I'll be on the shelf if I'm not married by then. That must not happen, for all the reasons you have just said, and my own. I should like to be married and have children one day."