Free History Lessons by Fiona Wilde Page B

can't tell you how much I've enjoyed your company." He glanced at Keegan. "And your son's."
    "I enjoyed having you here," she said.
    "Enough to allow me to return the favor?" he asked.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Would you two like to come up to my place this weekend? It's over an hour away. I live on an old farm. There's a lot of space for Keegan to run and play. He'd really enjoy himself."
    "What about work?" she asked. "Won't it make things....well, I don't want to create any conflicts."
    "I'm afraid it's too late for that," he said.
    "Mr. Ellis..."
    "Warren," he corrected, and sighed.
    "I'd love to, Warren," she said.
    "I wasn't expecting this, Lucy. I really wasn't. But I'll be frank with you. I feel drawn to you, and for someone like me that is highly unusual."
    She smiled and then grew serious.
    "What about the gossips?"
    "There's no rule against fraternization that I can tell," he said. "However, disruptive employees can be fired at will. That's what I intend to do tomorrow."
    "What?" she felt a chill run through her.
    "You're going to fire Lucy?"
    He nodded. "I have no choice."
    "Warren."
    "It's not open for debate," he said. "It's not your decision. Or your worry. Understand?"
    There was that tone again, the one reminding her of her place. Lucy said nothing.
    "You've done nothing wrong, Lucy," he said.
    She knew she had not, but if that was so, why did she suddenly feel so terrible?
    "I'd better be going," he said and gave her a courtly bow that made her smile - but for just a moment.
    As she watched him go she felt that the evening had gone from sweet to bittersweet. Missy had unwittingly called it correctly, and now she was going to lose her job.
    "I have to find a way to stop that from happening," she said to herself. "I have to find a way to stop her from getting fired, and from getting spanked for doing it."

     

Chapter Six

    Warren arrived early the next morning to pick her up. Hartford House was having visitors that day so he was wearing a velvet waistcoat with matching breeches. His shoes gleamed so brightly they shone. Keegan's eyes grew wide.
    "Now you look like a prince," he said.
    Warren chucked him under the chin and laughed. "I'm a colonial gentleman. I left England to get away from royalty, so to refer to me as a prince is a grave insult my friend."
    "We're friends?" It seemed to be all that Keegan had heard.
    "Well of course we are!"
    "You live on a farm."
    "I do." Warren looked over at Lucy. "And I'll take you and your mother there tomorrow should she agree."
    Lucy walked over. "I would accuse you of unfairly putting me on the spot had I already decided not to go," she said.
    Warren stood and bowed with a flourish. "You honor me, madam," he said.
    "And you honor us," she replied. "It will be nice to get away."
    "Yes, but for now we have work."
    The statement brought her crashing back to reality. Warren was planning to fire Missy. And Lucy was determined not to let that happen. But how could she dissuade him?
    She did not discuss it until after they'd dropped Keegan off at preschool. It was show-and-tell day and Warren was impressed that Lucy was allowing her son to take in a drop spindle to show the other kids. He'd been learning to spin yarn on it for months now, and was better than some adults Lucy knew.
    "Have fun!" she called over her shoulder as he ran off to hang up his coat.
    She took a deep breath as she made her way back to the SUV.
    The rode in silence for a while as Lucy struggled to find a way to broach the subject. Finally she decided there was no delicate way.
    "Warren, I don't want you to fire Missy."
    He stared straight ahead. "It's not your decision."
    "No, it's not. But I feel responsible. We were friends..."
    "That has nothing to do with it."
    "It does, Warren? Missy felt some resentment. I know her behavior hasn't been proper or right but...."
    "It's not a matter of whether she's been proper or right. She's sowing discord in the workplace by insinuating that..."
    "...that there's