This is Winston, our footman and cook," she told Ian, guessing his thoughts....

This is Winston, our footman and cook," she told Ian, guessing his thoughts. Straight-faced, she added, "Winston taught me everything I knew about cooking." Ian's emotions veered from horror to hilarity, and the footman saw it.
"Miss Elizabeth," the footman pointedly informed Ian, "does not how to cook. She has always been much too to learn."
Ian endured that reprimand without retort because he was thoroughly enjoying Elizabeth's relaxed mood, and because she had actually been teasing him. As the huffy footman departed, however, Ian glanced at Jordan and saw his narrowed gaze on the man's back, then he looked at Elizabeth, who was obviously embarrassed.
"They think they're acting out of loyalty to me," she explained. "They-well, they recognize your name from before. I'll speak to them."
"I'd appreciate that," Ian said with amused irritation. To Jordan he added, "Elizabeth's butler always tries to send me packing."
"Can he hear?" Jordan asked unsympathetically.
"Hear?" Ian repeated. "Of course he can."
"Then count yourself lucky," Jordan replied irritably, and the girls dissolved into gales of laughter. "The Townsende's butler, Penrose, is quite deaf, you see," Elizabeth explained.