Edward blinks at this and considers it for several long moments. During that time the smile that was normally on his face slowly began to fade, it was incremental at first but as more time passed it turned to a frown, then a scowl, and finally a stormy look on his features as the man begins to tremble slightly. Pushing to his feet he gets up and strolls towards the groundskeeper's house calling out as he goes.

"Mister MacCleod?"

The big man pops his head out and blinks, he'd never heard Edward raise his voice so this was quite the surprise.

"Aye, sire?"

The big man says looking towards the weeping Ruth with a troubled expression.

"Get the carriage ready if you would."

The big man blinks in surprise, Edward had not asked for the carriage before. At least, not in a way that suggested he would need it for himself.

"Very good, take some time I have to get cleaned up first but afterward will be going into town."

There was a certain certainty to his voice that actually had Angus nodding and rushing off to get it done. It had been some time since Edward had used that particular voice, what he'd called his professor's voice. Then again, it had been some time since he'd had cause to get a class of young men to pay attention. Turning he heads towards the house to order Mister Lane to have a bath and a clean suit laid out for him, as well as a shave and a trim of his frazzled hair.