Page 12 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
Alexander noticed the basket was filled with fruit from the woods and several flowers and realized she probably worked in the kitchen.
He had never seen her before, so why did she feel so familiar? As he looked closely, he tried to place her features, but the last time he had seen Eliza, she had just been a child, and this person before him was a beautiful young woman.
Except that her eyes were bluer than Eliza’s, and her hair a little less blonde.
But, the beauty marks. Alexander’s eyes widened as he noticed the beauty marks on her face, one of them just beneath her right eye and the other on her left cheek. Exactly the marks Eliza had. Or did Eliza have them under her left eye and right cheek? He was suddenly confused.
But if this woman was Eliza, why would she call herself Beth? The Russels couldn’t have done this to Eliza. They couldn’t have forced her to become a maid and taken away her identity. Even the mere thought of it was cruel, and Alexander had no desire even to consider such a thing.
No, it couldn’t be the case.
“Is something on my face?” Her voice forced him to blink quickly, returning to the present.
“What?”
“You are staring.”
“I must apologize,” he immediately said, smiling at her. “I was lost for a second, but I must thank you for your help in finding my horse. I must repay you somehow for your kindness.”
“That is unnecessary.” She raised her hands, already turning around.
“Here …” Alexander walked towards her, taking her basket from her hands as she continued to protest. “Let me carry your basket to the house. Please.”
“I can take it,” she said, “you do not have to trouble yourself.”
“It would be my honour.”
She must have seen something in his eyes because she stopped protesting and agreed, the two of them making their way back towards the house in silence.
Alexander knew she would lead him straight towards the kitchen, which was exactly where he needed to be to find a maid who might be familiar. For some reason, despite not even knowing her for more than a few minutes, the silence they shared was hardly uncomfortable.
Something about her just felt right.
The house finally appeared before them, and he followed her inside as she entered the kitchen through the small back gate, but Alexander surveyed the entire place as quickly as possible.
“You can leave it here.” He placed the basket on the kitchen counter as the few maids in the kitchen turned to look at him.
Suddenly, an elderly woman entered the kitchen, her hair completely white from age and Alexander felt as if the risk he had taken was finally successful. It was Lara. She had been Eliza’s nanny when she was a little girl, and even though she had gained several years, there was no denying it was her.
He needed to find a way to talk to her.
“Thank you for helping me carry the basket,” Beth said, and he turned back towards her.
“Of course,” he replied, “I will see you some other time.”
“Goodbye. Don’t lose Dyson again!”
She called after him as he chuckled, leaving the kitchen from the back gate, but his mind was already on Lara. He needed to talk to her one way or the other, and he needed to do it soon.
Chapter 3
“What about the refreshments? Has everything been finalized and the necessary ingredients bought?” Beatrice asked Eliza, who stood before her in the parlour as they discussed the masquerade already upon them.
It had only been one week since they had arrived in London, and the masquerade was to be held tomorrow at what was now called the Russel Estate. Like every other event hosted by the family, the arrangements for it had also fallen on Eliza’s shoulders.
She had designed the invitations and made sure they were promptly sent to the entire guest list, which Beatrice and Edgar had also decided with little tweaks here and there. She had also decided on the refreshments, the musicians that were to be called, and the general arrangements for the entire party.
It almost felt as if she hadn’t slept at all through the past few nights since she had to help Beatrice and Victoria finalize their dresses for the masquerade as well.
