Page 60 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
If there was someone who really did know her, it was George.
“Well, it is about Amelia,” she sighed, finally deciding to tell him.
“Amelia? What about her?”
“Do you remember how I told you I have been receiving gifts from an unnamed fairy godmother?” George nodded. “Amelia found out about those gifts and has been stealing them ever since.”
“Stealing them?” A frown covered his handsome features, making Eliza squeeze his hand harder.
“Yes. She has been taking things from my room, and when I confronted her about it, she completely denied the allegations and hasn’t even been talking to me with a straight face since. I think she might be angry with me.”
“My goodness, Beth,” he sighed deeply, his palms running across her arms as he comforted her, “I cannot believe a good thing has been turned into something this thoroughlyawful. I am truly sorry you had to suffer through something of this sort.”
Eliza was unsure about the guilt she saw on George’s face, making her feel as if he had blamed himself for this problem.
She did not understand it because he was certainly not at fault in the entire matter, completely distanced from it. Although, she could sense the sincerity of his reactions, reminding her how he was only worried about her.
“It is not your fault, George,” she whispered, smiling at him.
“I will do anything in my power to make this problem go away and help you in every way that I can. Is that alright?”
At that moment, Eliza wanted to do nothing more than to believe in his promise. His gaze was warm and sincere, and Eliza could see how he just might be able to help her. She appreciated the honesty of his words and nodded.
“That would be excellent.” She laughed softly. “Thank you.”
“You mustn’t thank me.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as he had done countless times before. “Also, before I forget to tell you, the masked stranger wishes to see you later in the afternoon. Would that be possible?”
“I will come.” Eliza nodded, wanting to meet the masked stranger herself. It had been much too long. “It might take me some time because slipping away is not always easy. But I will try my best.”
“That would be excellent.”
“Can we watch the sunrise now?” she asked him, beginning to look at the sky once again.
“Absolutely!”
George leaned in closer, and Eliza comfortably placed her head on his arm as the two of them continued to watch the beautiful scenery before them in silence. Eliza had never felt this peaceful before.
***
The forest was silent around him as Alexander waited in the evening, dressed in his usual attire of the masked stranger.
He had been waiting for about fifteen minutes now, but Eliza still hadn’t appeared, which made him worried. For some reason he could not understand, the closer he was getting to revealing the truth about the Russels, the more trouble seemed to be brimming under the surface.
Where are you, Eliza?
He continued to pace around the woods, knowing how important it was for him to see her today. He had been away for the past week, digging deeper into the story of the Russelssending Eliza to France as they took care of her properties and inheritance.
Now, he had legal proof that Eliza had never stepped foot in France since the only relatives she had in France were a few distant relatives from her mother’s side, and they had assured Alexander that Eliza had never arrived.
Along with this, he also had proof of Edgar Russel dipping into her inheritance without her permission. What had shocked him even more was finding out how Edgar had tried his best to get the London Estate and all other properties around the country that belonged to Eliza in his name, but the duke had been intelligent enough to put a lot of red tape around the matter.
Hence, the properties were still safely in Eliza’s name and could easily be returned to her.
Now, all he needed were the documents in Edgar’s desk drawer. But how was he going to get back inside the house?
He was worried, but he knew he would have to find a way to solve the last piece of this puzzle. It was about time Elizareceived justice, and Alexander would do anything to make it happen.
Despite this, he had other things to ask Eliza and remind her how he was still on her side, and all she needed to do was wait a little rather than give up so easily.
