“I-I must tell you all something,” Eliza said before she lost the courage.
Everyone looked at her, but she swallowed down the nerves and continued.
“It is my fault Mr. Mungo was arrested,” Eliza confessed before she lost her courage.
“I don’t understand,” Bramstone Nightingale said, his brows drawn together in a hard line.
She’d known of many servants who’d been mistreated and then blamed for the actions of another by well-to-dofamilies who were not willing to see the fault in their own. Would these people be the same? She hoped not.
“I had work with the Ellington family, briefly, while their usual governess was away. Their son, Mr. Parson—well, he tried to take advantage of me.” She shot Ivy and Bramstone a look, hoping they wouldn’t see her as forward and dismiss her.
“Ellington!” Lord Seddon snarled.
“We are familiar with Lord Ellington, Miss Downing, and I have no doubt his son’s character is similar to his. They are men with no morals. Continue with your story, please,” Bramstone said.
“The afternoon was foggy, and it was my last day. I had left, and he followed me out the door and grabbed me.
“What’s afoot?” another man demanded as he ran through the door. “Clemmie just told me Mungo has been arrested.”
“We are endeavoring to uncover just that, Ram. Quiet now, while our new governess, Miss Downing, explains,” Bramstone said.
They would let her stay. The realization made her knees go weak.
“I screamed but had little hope anyone would come,” Eliza continued, remembering the attack.
“I’m Mr. Ramsey Hellion,” the man interjected, bowing.
“Ram, now is not the time for introductions, so shut up!” Alexander Nightingale said. “Continue, Miss Downing.”
“I fought, but he was stronger than me, and then, suddenly, Mr. Mungo appeared.”
“He always appears when he’s needed. I’ve often wondered how he does it,” Lord Seddon said.
“I wonder where he was going?” Mr. Alexander Nightingale mused.
“What happened next?” Bramstone Nightingale asked, scowling at the others to keep them quiet.
“He and Mr. Parson?—”
“Who is Mr. Parson?” Mr. Hellion asked.
“The man attacking Miss Downing, and Ellington’s son,” Bramstone Nightingale gritted out. “Shut up!”
“Ellington,” Mr. Hellion echoed, baring his teeth.
Clearly she was not the only person who did not like that man or his son.
“There was a struggle, and Mr. Mungo hit Mr. Parson, which he deserved.” Eliza added the last quickly so they understood the situation had been dire.
“And how is it Ellington knew it was Mungo who hit his son, I wonder,” Bramstone said.
“He gave Mr. Parson his name,” Eliza said.
“Idiot.” Lord Seddon looked disgusted.
“We have to get Mungo back home now. He loathes being locked in anywhere.”
Everyone but Bramstone Nightingale looked confused now.
