ellie gave justin a quick glance beneath lowered lashes as she heard the mocking amusement in his tone ; grateful as she was to the dowager duchess for coming to her rescue a year ago , it had not been an easy task for ellie to learn to hold her impetuous tongue , or keep her fiery temper in check , as was befitting in the companion of a much older lady and a dowager duchess at that , and they were faults her mother had been at pains to point out to ellie on a regular basis when she was alive .