After nearly an hour of conversation, Eleanor finally grasped the current state of the Langford family. Not long after her mother's death, her grandfather, Edward Langford, had fallen gravely ill and was forced to pass on the Earl title to his younger brother, Walter Langford.
Walter had done his best to maintain the family's estate and influence in the region, but times had changed. With shifting political dynamics and the steady decline of noble power in modern society, it became harder and harder to maintain the balance. As the family's income dwindled over time, so did their sway over regional affairs.
