Page 1 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
Prologue
“Can I have another piece of cheese, Miss Donnell?” Eliza asked her nanny, seated just beside her on the picnic blanket laid out for them in the open gardens under the large oak tree.
When she had awoken this morning, the weather had been extremely pleasant, and Eliza had asked Lara to skip their lessons today and have a picnic instead.
It was usually rather difficult to dissuade Lara, but Eliza had shown some mock sadness over her parents’ prolonged absence, which had softened Lara’s heart, and she had easily obliged to the innocent request.
“Of course, Lady Eliza,” Lara had conceded, tucking her newly emerged white strands under her well-secured bun, “I suppose one afternoon of missed classes won’t cause our progress much harm.”
She picked up another piece of cheese from the picnic basket packed for them by the cook and handed it to Eliza, who took it greedily. She had always loved cheese and that was whatshe had asked her parents to bring for her when they returned from their trip to France.
Eliza had been extremely upset when they had refused to take her along with them on their trip, knowing fully well that she was never left behind on such adventures.
Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Grafton, had insisted she stayed home while they attended to some important work.
Being the perfect daughter even at the young age of seven, Eliza had not wanted to be a bother and simply agreed to let them go if they brought her exquisite flavours of cheese from France.
And just like that, the deal was made.
Only now, she waited for them day and night since it was already past their visiting time, and they should be home any time now. Her mother had written to her almost two weeks ago and promised they would return soon. Eliza had never been happier about a letter, having been away from her parents long enough already.
“Do you think Mama and Papa might return home today?” she asked Lara, who smiled at her, running a hand through Eliza’s beautiful, golden hair.
“I certainly hope so,” Lara sighed. “The house does not seem alive without the duke and duchess.”
Eliza stared curiously at Lara, wondering what the comment meant, but in her heart, she already knew. It was apparent how much the servants loved her parents, them being the kindest duke and duchess in all of England, or at least that was what everyone who knew them said.
All Eliza knew was that they were the most perfect parents ever to exist and loved her more than she could have ever asked for.
“I cannot wait for the gifts they will bring for me.” Eliza laughed, taking a small bite from the cube of cheese in her hand.
“My goodness, Miss Eliza.” Lara chuckled. “And here I thought you were upset because you missed them so dearly. But you clearly only miss the presents they always bring for you.”
“That is not true,” Eliza protested, shaking her head vehemently at her nanny.
“Well, then, what is true?”
“I miss them.” Eliza shrugged, remembering her mother’s warm laughter. It had been too long since Eliza had slept in her mother’s lap, and where Lara was equally warm and comforting towards her, Eliza needed her mother.
She wanted to sit beside her father and listen to the countless stories he told her from his youth and the anecdotes they might bring home from France.
She wanted to laugh and joke with them and, as Lara had said, make the house feel alive again. Things were still lively and just as happy, but Eliza certainly could not wait for the house to be full once more.
It had been much too long.
“If you close your eyes and pray to God with all your heart, your prayers might be answered, and they will return home.”
“Are you certain?”
“Positive,” Lara replied seriously.
Without wasting another second, Eliza closed her eyes, her heart focused entirely on praying to God.
Please let them come home soon, even if they have forgotten my gifts. I miss them so much, and I cannot wait to see them. Please God.
As Eliza opened her eyes, a smile on her face, her eyes suddenly widened as they fell on Mr Baker, the butler, standing right in front of her.
She felt as if all her wishes were coming true and the butler was here to inform her that her parents had returned home at last. She stood up excitedly, completely ignoring the solemn expression on Mr Baker’s face.
