I’ll expect a full report," she whispered.
The young footman stiffened and turned. "Begging your pardon, ma’am?"
"Oh, it’s to be that way, is it?" she observed, nodding her head sagely. "Just be careful lest you forget for whom you work and be out of work," she snapped, thoroughly nettled.
Behind the footman came the rising sound of voices. The library door cracked open, and Jane distinctly heard Mr. Culpepper addressing his son. "If you’re going to eavesdrop, get it right, boy!" His words were followed by his person dragging his son out by the ear.
"Ouch, ouch! Please, Papa! I promise, Papa!" the child wailed as he was led past her.
Jane blinked in surprise at this turnabout. She looked questioningly at the earl, who followed the Culpeppers out; but a little negative shake of his head forced her, seething with curiosity, to hold her peace.
Mr. Culpepper led his son to the manor house door and pushed him outside. "Wait for us in the carriage. I’ll attend to you later," he told the red-faced child. Then he turned his back on Henry and shut the door.
He glanced up at Jane and scowled, his lower lip protruding sulkily. He looked as if he wished to say something, then changed his mind and raked a beefy hand through his scraggly gray-streaked hair. Shuffling uneasily from one foot to the other, he nodded shortly at her and turned to enter the parlor to fetch his wife and daughter.
Jane looked at the earl. "What has been going on?" she asked, coming to stand beside him.
"Wait," he said, nodding in the direction of the parlor. He turned toward Bertram. "I’m certain Miss Twinkleham is waiting to fuss over you. You’d best go on up."
Bertram made a sour expression.
"Be thankful you have people interested in your welfare. The world is a cold and cruel place without them, and you are not, entirely, without blame," the earl reminded him sharply.
The boy nodded and with dragging feet slowly mounted the stairs.
Impatience welled within Jane. "Will you please tell me what’s been going on? I’ve been on tenterhooks for the past half hour!" she hissed softly, glancing around to see that no one was listening.
The earl glanced up and down the hall and led her to a long bench near the door. "Henry apparently overheard his sister telling her mother about your—ah—nickname. But he did not hear their conversation clearly. He only overheard snatches. Somehow he thought you were referred to as an Old Witch rather than an Ice Witch and taunted Bertram with that name."
"Old Witch?" Jane repeated, dazed. Then she fell to laughing.
The earl remained punctiliously serious. "It was, quite naturally, more than the boy’s honor could bear. "
"Oh, come now, my lord. What’s in a name?" she returned easily.
The earl refused to be drawn. "You fail to appreciate the enormity of the situation, here. You were being insulted. He, as the nearest male relative, was defending your honor."
"Defending my honor? Oh, come now!"
"Do not think to shuffle it casually aside. Bertram strongly feels he has a responsibility to you and Lady Elsbeth as the nearest and oldest male relative available."
"But he is only a child!"
"That does not weigh with him. Do not belittle his action. "
"But he was fighting!" protested Jane.
"His pride and honor are involved here. Do not crush them with feminine nonsense."
"Feminine nonsense!"
"If you feel strongly that the boy should be punished, then punish him for something that he knows was wrong and won’t affect his pride. Punish him for wandering off without letting anyone know."
"Well that, certainly—"
"No, make it that only, Miss Grantley. "
Jane looked like she would protest again, but just at that moment the rest of the Culpeppers came out of the parlor and hurriedly made their good-byes. Mrs. Culpepper was observed quietly badgering Mr. Culpepper for information on what had transpired. But it didn’t look as if she met with any success. They saw them out to the carriage. By the time Mr. Culpepper bundled his nagging wife into the carriage, his face had again assumed a choleric hue. He slammed the door on her and climbed up beside his coachman so abruptly, that the man nearly dropped the reins. Though the driver looked uncertainly at Mr. Culpepper, he didn’t say a word as he whipped up the horses and turned down the drive.
Watching them race down the lane, Jane leaned against the doorframe. She was suddenly exhausted. Muscles she didn’t even know existed began clamoring for attention.
The earl studied her closely. "You, young