Page 44 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
Tears stung her eyes, but she remained steady, not sobbing one bit even when the shiny wetness stained her cheeks. Alexander had the urge to get closer to her and wipe away the tears from her face, but he knew it was not appropriate. He forced himself to stay put.
“Did you not protest?” he asked, his words soft.
“Of course I did.” She was no longer trying to hide her tears. “But they shut me up in the attic when I tried to write letters to friends of my parents or contact anyone who mighthelp me. I was too young to do much, and they took away all the means for me to contact anyone outside the house. I was trapped.”
“And then you gave up?”
“I had no choice,” she sighed, wiping her cheeks. “When I was a little older and had enough freedom to finally contact someone, I had no recollection of any names or addresses, and I knew no one would believe me since I had no proof either. I had no choice but to simply accept my fate and be strong in order to survive.”
“You have been strong enough, Lady Eliza.”
“It feels like distant history now.” She chuckled sadly. “I can’t even remember what it was like all those years ago when I was not a servant but a lady, and I know I can never return to that life. It is no longer meant for me, and I must learn to accept it and move on.”
She breathed in deeply.
“I must apologize to you for crying like a little girl.” She chuckled, wiping her face once again. “I had no idea it was weighing on my chest so heavily. Thank you for listening to me.”
“You have every right to cry after all the terrible things that have happened to you, My Lady. I feel immense anger towards Lord and Lady Leicester for putting you through this tragedy and even getting away with it. They are living on nothing but your inheritance right now, and they have no right to it at all.”
Alexander could feel himself getting worked up.
He shifted a little closer to Eliza, who remained quiet at his comment as if being angry towards her aunt and uncle wouldn’t bring her any peace either.
Alexander understood the severity of her emotions and how giving up on hope must have felt like the easiest thing to do, especially when one was faced with survival. She could not have resisted forever. He tentatively put a hand on Eliza’s hand, feeling uncertain about the touch.
“Isn’t it funny?” Her question made him look at her.
“What is?”
“Just a few nights ago, you had no apprehensions about letting me sleep on your lap, and today, you look uncertain about holding my hand to simply comfort me.”
Alexander laughed at her comment, knowing she was right. He felt no such thing when he pulled her close and held her against him at the masquerade, but he suddenly felt conscious of his actions.
Despite that, her words gave him courage, and he held her hand confidently, growing bolder when she did not pull away. Instead, he took both her hands in his and held them in her lap, looking deep into her eyes.
They were as beautiful as ever, even with tears swirling in them.
“I admire your courage and bravery, Lady Eliza. I truly do,” he sighed, “and I wish I could tell you enough how proud I am of you, but my words will do no justice to the emotions in my heart. Despite everything that happened to you, you still did not allow bitterness to enter your heart, and not everyone is capable of being this kind. I wonder how you did it and maintained your own warmth through this tragic fate, but you somehow did it.”
Eliza’s eyes were lined with tears once again, and he could sense the effect his words must be having on her. That was just what he had wanted: for her to feel at ease around him. With this one meeting, he felt as if he had accomplished the task.
“Why are you so kind to me?” she whispered, her expression vulnerable.
“Because I have never met a person in my life so fully deserving of love and kindness as you are, and it is about time someone shows you that you are worth everything. I will never take anything about you for granted and keep reminding you who you truly are in your heart and mind and how perfect you are in every way imaginable.”
“You say all of these things which make me hope again when all I have ever known is for hope to break hearts.”
“I know life has disappointed you, Lady Eliza, but you must learn to trust fate again. This time, it just might surprise you.”
She laughed softly.
“I will try.”
He gently squeezed her hands and sighed, not wanting to part from her one bit. Although, he knew it was time for the masked stranger to leave. The temptation of revealing himself to Eliza was stronger than ever, but Alexander controlled it, not wanting to mess things up.
“I must take your leave now.”
“You are going?” she asked, appearing slightly disappointed.
