Page 42 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
“Can you come meet me here in the woods tomorrow? At this time only?”
“Why?” she asked, confused. They had never made plans to meet in this manner before, and all their meetings were pure coincidence and luck.
“I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise for me?” Eliza giggled. “Why do you wish to give me a surprise?”
“I would like to think we are friends,” he said with a smile. ‘Aren’t we? Can a friend not give his friend a surprise?”
Eliza knew her attraction and feelings towards George extended far beyond simply friendship, but she stayed silent, simply nodding at him.
She enjoyed being around him because he was different from anyone else she had ever met. He was her friend simply for the sake of it, no ulterior motives attached to it.
She could sense he cared for her and would always be there whenever she needed him. That was what drew them even closer to one another since Eliza could feel a sense of kinship with him, as if they were meant to always be together, beside one another.
Besides, she had already decided that he was the only person left in her life with whom she could share things. She had no other friends or listening ears, and she needed someone to come to when her heart felt too heavy.
George was her person. She had poured out her problems to him today, and he had replied sensibly, helping her understand things she was choosing to ignore or not pay attention to.
She knew he was going to be there for her through everything, and she needed that comfort in her life.
“Of course we are friends,” she finally replied, smiling at him at last.
“In that case, I will be waiting here for you tomorrow at this time only. I expect you will come?”
“I will find a way to make it. I promise.”
George clasped her hand in excitement, and she let him, even his touch oddly familiar.
“Thank you,” he whispered, drawing closer to her until the two of them were just side by side, both staring ahead.
Eliza breathed in deeply, his faint earthen scent enjoyable for her and leaned into his shoulder as the pair sat there in silence. That was the most peace Eliza had felt in days.
Chapter 11
The next day, Alexander made his way from the house towards the woods just behind the Russel Estate, no longer dressed like George.
He had already been planning to reintroduce Eliza to the masked stranger from the party, but he needed to be extremely careful with the execution of this plan. He only wished to do so, for he wanted Eliza not only to be able to trust George but also trust the masked stranger, and that could only happen if the two of them had ample interaction.
The only problem with the entire situation was that without the mask, Eliza would recognize him, and he could not afford that to happen.
Not yet, anyway.
At the masquerade, he had done an excellent job at making George and the masked stranger look like two entirely different people, but he would need to continue this charade rather staunchly.
Hence, simply slicking back his hair into a ponytail wouldn’t be able to cut it, and he would need to completely hide his face to make sure Eliza did not discover his true identity.
Just at the edge of the woods, Alexander slipped on the full-face mask he had decided to wear instead of just a half mask before meeting Eliza.
He hoped for his serious demeanour, slicked-back hair, deeper voice, and gentleman’s attire to be enough to draw Eliza’s attention away from him being George, and that she would only see him as the masked stranger from the party who knew her true identity.
This way, Eliza would be able to trust both of them, and Alexander would be able to keep both of his identities.
Being George would allow him to infiltrate the house, but having the identity of the mysterious stranger would allow him to use it whenever it was required.
He quickly made his way to the exact spot where they had met yesterday and sat down on the log, his eyes on the scenery ahead of him. With evening almost approaching, the birds in the skies were beginning to return to their nests, and Alexander was engrossed in watching the colours in the skies.
“You!” Eliza’s voice behind him made him turn around, realizing how he had completely failed to hear her footsteps.
