Page 20 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
His confidence was caught on by everyone around him as he descended the stairs, sudden silence ensuing around the ballroom.
He had no desire to make his entrance grand, but it had happened without him even trying, and he was not going to act meek now. Alexander always had a way of grabbing attention wherever he went, and tonight was no different. Although tonight, his motives for the evening were entirely something else.
I need to find Eliza again.
He needed to make sure he came across Eliza as soon as possible, and after he had left her outside, he was sure she would find him.
That had been his motive, to intrigue her enough so they could talk later in the night. He needed to tell her he knew who she was to instill hope in her heart, which had clearly been lost.
Lara had told him everything.
Eliza and Lara did some embroidery and mending work on the side to gather money for their escape. Eliza had decided that the only way to find freedom was to escape this life along with Ralph and Lara and find another place to live. But Alexander was not going to let that happen.
Anything and everything that belonged to Eliza was going to be rightfully hers soon enough.
“My Lord.” Lord and Lady Leicester stood just at the bottom of the stairs and greeted Alexander as he entered the ballroom, several eyes still trained on him.
For some reason, he could see several ladies of the ton making their way towards him, clearly seeking an introduction.
“My Lord, My Lady,” Alexander greeted the hosts with a bow, and they bowed back in response.
“Welcome to our humble home,” Lady Leicester said, and Alexander felt himself growing angrier than he thought imaginable.
If it were possible, he would have revealed their truth right now in front of the entire ton, but that would be an entirely fruitless thing to do. The way Lady Leicester had called the estate her home made him furious because he knew the house belonged to Eliza and Eliza alone. The money spent on this ball belonged to Eliza as well, and the Russels deserved to have nothing.
Nothing at all.
Yet here they were, flaunting the money as their own.
“You have arranged a beautiful ball here, I must say. I am certainly impressed by being here.”
“Thank you!” Lord Leicester said, his marks dangling from his neck rather than being on his face.
“Please enjoy yourself,” Lady Leicester chimed in, “I can see several ladies are already gathered right there seeking introductions.”
Alexander laughed, not replying to the remark. He simply walked ahead, ignoring the group of ladies, who, as per Lady Leicester, were waiting for him.
He had no desire to mingle with any of them and certainly could not care much, even if they did want to see him. He had far more important things to accomplish, and for that, he needed to stay around the Russell family and gather who their close friends happened to be.
If he could successfully find the secrets of the family and the way they had stolen Eliza’s inheritance, he would be able to accomplish a lot and get everything back for Eliza.
But for that, he would need to be tactful. And he also needed to find Eliza again.
“My Lord?” He turned around and, as a hand touched his arm, found a set of blue eyes and pale blonde hair standing in front of him.
If he had not been looking closely, he could have mistaken her for Eliza, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that her hair was much shorter and her eyes a lot less blue than Eliza’s.
She was slightly taller and rather plain under her mask, and the sweetness that Eliza possessed was completely missing from her. This was someone else.
“Yes, My Lady?” he asked her, staying within formal bounds.
“I demand an introduction this instant.” She laughed playfully, standing closer to him than propriety allowed, but people were clearly not themselves behind these masks, and the woman in front of him already seemed slightly drunk.
“I refuse to give one.”
“Well then, I must give you mine so you could perhaps change your mind,” she continued smiling, the pink gown she wore entirely unflattering on her, “I am Lady Victoria Russel. And you are?”
Victoria Russel.
