Page 44 of The Paid Companion

Arthur sighed. “Please sit down, Elenora.”

Her mouth tightened, but she sat.

Ibbitts was stunned. “You’re letting me go?”

“Of course I’m letting you go.” Arthur reached behind his chair and tugged on a velvet bell pull. “You’re a liar and a blackmailer. Consider yourself fortunate that I’m not having you placed under arrest.”

The library door opened. Ned stood there, looking scared but determined.

“Yes, m’lord?” he said.

“Ibbitts is no longer employed in this household. You will accompany him to his room while he packs his possessions. Make certain that he does not help himself to any of the silver on the way out the door. Is that clear?”

Ned glanced from Arthur to the scowling Ibbitts and back again. The anxiety evaporated from his eyes.

“Aye, sir,” he said in a firmer tone. “I’ll see him out the back door for ye.”

Ibbitts’s face twisted with fury and scorn. “I suggest that you ask Sally and Ned for references concerning their characters, m’lord. You’ll soon find out that they cannot supply any. Sally lost her post because she lifted her skirts for her employer’s heir. Ned here lost his because he took her side when she tried to deny what she’d done.”

Ned’s hands tightened into fists.

Elenora came up out of her chair. “I do not doubt Sally and Ned’s version of the story for a moment. It is Ibbitts who has proved himself untrustworthy.”

Arthur rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I would appreciate it if you would stay seated, Miss Lodge. All this popping up and down is rather tiresome.”

“Sorry.”

She sank back down into her chair with obvious reluctance. Arthur could see the toe of one of her slippers tapping impatiently on the carpet. It occurred to him that her short career as a paid companion had done little to alter what was obviously her natural inclination to take command.

In spite of all the problems facing him at the moment, he was amused. Elenora no doubt found this business of deferring to him extremely vexing.

He fixed his attention on Ned. “You and Sally will both remain in your present posts. Furthermore, I will see to it that the wages Ibbitts forced you to pay to him are refunded immediately.”

“Thank you, sir,” Ned stuttered, clearly astonished.

Arthur gestured toward the door. “On your way, Ibbitts. I have wasted enough time on this matter.”

Ibbitts’s jaw clenched with rage. He gave Elenora a vengeful glare as he stalked past her.

Arthur waited until Ibbitts had reached the door before he spoke again.

“One more thing, Ibbitts,” he said, steepling his fingers. “There seems to be some confusion regarding Miss Lodge’s status in this household.”

“I know her status right enough,” Ibbitts muttered. “She’s nothing more than a paid companion.”

“You are mistaken in that assumption.” Arthur kept his tone very even. “I intend to marry Miss Lodge. She will most certainly be the future mistress of this household. If you make the mistake of spreading tales to the contrary, you will have cause to regret it. Do I make myself clear?”

With a quick sideways glance, he saw Elenora’s eyes widen.

Ibbitts bared his teeth. “Whatever you want to call her is your affair, m’lord.”

“Yes,” Arthur agreed. “It is. You may go now.”

Ibbitts stomped through the doorway. Ned closed the door and followed him, leaving Arthur alone with Margaret and Elenora.

“Well,” Margaret said. “That was certainly exciting.” She smiled at Elenora with great satisfaction. “I told you that Arthur would settle matters. Now you can instruct Sally to unpack your trunk.”

Arthur went cold inside. He looked at Elenora, trying not to let his reaction show on his face.