Claire was sobbing so hard that Ellie thought she would crumple to the ground if Charles weren't shaking her by the shoulders. “Charles, stop!” Ellie cried out, unable to watch this any longer. “Can't you see she's upset?”

“As well she should be,” he snarled.

“Charles, that is enough! She has told me she is sorry, and I accept her apology.”

“Well, I don't.”

If Ellie's hands weren't bandaged and throbbing with pain, she would have smacked him. “It isn't your apology to accept,” she ground out.

“Don't you want an explanation?”

“She has already given me one.”

Charles was so surprised he actually dropped Claire.

“I have given her my vow that I would not tell you about it.”

“Why?”

“That is between Claire and me.”

“Ellie…” His voice held a clear note of warning.

“I will not break my word,” she said firmly. “And I believe you value honesty enough not to ask me to do so.”

Charles let out an irritated breath and raked his hand through his hair. Ellie had him backed neatly into a corner. “She must be punished,” he finally said. “I insist upon it.”

Ellie nodded. “Of course. Claire has behaved very badly and must answer to the consequences. But I will decide upon the punishment, not you.”

He rolled his eyes. Ellie was so softhearted, she'd probably send the girl to her room for a night and be done with it.

His wife, however, surprised him when she turned to Claire, who was sitting on the floor where Charles had dropped her. “Claire,” Ellie said, “how do you think you should be punished?”

Claire was also obviously surprised, because she didn't say anything, just sat there with her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

“Claire?” Ellie said gently.

“I could clean up the mess in the orangery.”

“That is an excellent idea,” Ellie said. “I started clearing it out this morning with Charles, but we didn't accomplish very much. You will need to do a great deal of replanting as well. Many plants have died this past fortnight.”

Claire nodded. “I could also clean the jam from the kitchen.”

“That has already been done,” Charles said, his tone clipped.

New tears formed in Claire's eyes, and she turned to Ellie for moral support.

“What I would like above all else,” Ellie said softly, “would be for you to inform every member of this household that the mishaps of the past week were not my fault. I have been trying to find my place here at Wycombe Abbey, and I have not appreciated being made to look foolish and inept.”

Claire closed her eyes and nodded.

“It won't be easy for you,” Ellie conceded, “but coming here and apologizing to me wasn't easy, either. You're a strong girl, Claire. Stronger than you think.”

For the first time that evening, Claire actually smiled, and Ellie knew that everything was going to be all right.

Charles cleared his throat and said, “I think Ellie has had enough excitement for one day, Claire.”