Edmund explained his side of the story.
"So, you see.... I didn't even touch her."
"Then how did her clothes get ripped? Why is she in tears?" his mother demanded. She had never seen her son act in a despicable manner toward the staff before. She just couldn't understand it.
"Mother, I already told you..." Edmund stopped. It was useless. "Let her use you. She just wants more money anyway. Pay her and she'll leave."
Caroline's eyes got big. Her faced flushed in what looked like excitement. The greedy little baggage would take a payoff. What a way to celebrate a birthday.
At this point, Lady Withenstrop became suspicious. Her son had never attacked anyone before, in fact, he usually ran away from all the girls that tried to catch him. She decided to put the new maid to a test.
"My poor dear," Lady Withenstrop cooed to the maid. "How awful to have to handle this situation when you are so new here. Why don't you come with me, and we'll discuss this horrible thing that has been done to you."
Caroline fell hard for Lady Withenstrop's honeyed tone. "Yes, ma'am." Caroline whispered. "It was horrible."
"I know, dear. Men cannot control their base urges, can they? We must suffer in silence usually, but you! You were sooo brave to shout and call for help! What tragedy you must have escaped."
Edmund caught on to his mother's antics. He personally thought she was laying it on a little thick, but he did not interupt the master at her game.
"Yes, ma'am. It was horrible!" Caroline had found her voice.
"Tell me all about it, dear," Lady Withenstrop encouraged.
"Well, first he made me kiss him. And then when I wouldn't do anymore than that, he got mad and started yelling at me. It scared me real bad." Caroline's voice had become whiney in her effort to reach the sympathetic ear of the lady of the house. "He told me that he would beat me and maybe even kill me if I didn't... umm...."
"That's okay, dear, you don't need to go into details. I understand." Lady Withenstrop stated.
"Oh, but when I yelled... he.... he.... grabbed me! He flung me to the ground and wanted to have his wicked way with me!" Caroline got caught up in her story. No one ever accused her of being sharp. "I fought him off, I did. He came after me again, and that is when he grabbed me again. He pushed me down, and wanted to kick me, I could tell!"
"You poor thing. What a tragedy! And to be treated so in my own house. We will definitely make it right, my dear. Tell me, when you fought him off, is that when your dress was torn?" She prompted the maid.
"Oh, yes! He ripped it almost clean off, he did! And you know what else? He hit me again and again! It was awful!" Caroline was picturing the money she would be getting to keep her mouth shut about this little incident.
"Hit you? Oh, my. Where?" Lady Withenstrop asked sharply. She was tired of this game.
"Where?" Caroline parrotted dumbly. "Uhhh... well...."
"Come now, if he hit you, you would definitely know where. I know, just show me the marks."
"Marks?" Caroline couldn't think fast enough to keep up with the lady.
"Yes, marks. The bruises. A man that big would leave bruises on anyone he decided to beat." Lady Withenstrop narrowed her eyes at the maid. "He did hit you, right?"
"Uhhhh...." Caroline stammered.
"As I thought. Barnaby," Lady Withentrop turned to the butler. "Be so kind as to remove this scum from my house. I do not employ liars. If she made up the part about my son hitting her, then she made the entire story up. Remove her at once."
Lady Withenstrop turned and dismissed the matter from her mind. Edmund glared at Caroline, glad to see she had not caused a scandal as she was trying to do.
Barnaby put his hand on Caroline's arm to drag her away.....