Eleanor’s demeanor was somewhat more relaxed around Maria, but she was still reserved around Simon. However, compared to other strangers, she was slightly less afraid of her cousin.

Maria wasn’t just pretending to involve Eleanor; she genuinely assigned her part of the work. Maria would later review and verify Eleanor’s calculations, focusing mainly on teaching her how to read and understand the accounts.

Compared to an unrelated outsider like herself, wouldn’t it make more sense for the Duke’s cousin to manage the estate?

With that little thought in mind, Maria was exceptionally patient in teaching Eleanor. When she discovered that the accounts Simon brought her were very disorganized, she even...