Page 36 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
“Please go ahead and continue saying whatever is on your mind.”
“I was just asking you if the earl enjoyed the ball. He must have attended last night, I am sure.”
“He did attend,” Alexander replied, “and I heard him saying that he enjoyed it immensely and the ball was organized beautifully. I am certain it was all because of you.”
Eliza blushed.
“I tried my best for it to be successful.”
“And it was just that.”
She nodded, her eyes darting from left to right as if something was weighing on her mind. Alexander wondered if she could be thinking about the stranger from last night and the conversation she had with him. He could not blame her for constantly thinking about it since that must have given her a lot to consider.
“You must thank the earl for his praise,” she finally said, sighing deeply.
“I will,” Alexander promised. “Is something troubling you, Beth? You seem rather worried.”
She immediately became flustered, blinking quickly before looking at Alexander, and a smile pinned on her lips. Eliza shook her head as if it was the most absurd thought one could have ever had and rejected the question entirely.
“Not at all,” she said enthusiastically, “Although I must return to the house now.”
“I will walk you there. I do not wish you to be carrying this heavy basket all the way to the kitchen.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that, George,” she protested.
“I insist.”
She wordlessly allowed him to walk beside her, and the two made their way back to the house.
“Thank you,” she finally said.
“That is entirely unnecessary.” He smiled, “I completely forgot to tell you that the earl is planning to invite the Russels to dinner later this month. The entire family, of course.”
“That sounds delightful.”
“I was wondering if I could come to the house during the dinner and perhaps become a part of the traditional game of cards that goes on between the servants.”
“How do you know about the game?” Eliza looked at him squarely.
Alexander had seen the card game happening once when he was a little boy and had assumed it still went on, but he definitely could not tell Eliza that. Although, if he remembered right, he had heard two footmen just by the gate discussing the winnings of the card games the night of the ball.
“I accidentally overheard a few servants bragging about their skill and winnings in the card games held here.”
Eliza laughed.
“You are right, the games do happen, but I have never participated,” she replied, “I will ask Lara about who organized the game and make sure we have a seat for you. You are more than welcome to join.”
Alexander nodded, knowing this might be the only chance he would get to find proof against the Russels. He could not let this opportunity go.
***
“Who is he?” Victoria stared across the garden from the parlour window, watching Eliza as she walked through the garden with a man beside her.
Margaret stood up from her position on the sofa to stare at what Victoria was looking at and turned towards her sister, “I think that is George. He is a stable hand on the earl’s estate and has been coming to the house after he accidentally met Beth afew days ago. The other day, I saw him in the kitchen with the other servants and heard a little bit of their conversation.”
“A stable hand?” Victoria asked suspiciously, unsure about the theory. “He does not look like a stable hand.”
“Just because he is handsome, he does not have to be noble, Victoria,” Margaret replied, returning to her tea.
