Page 32 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
Instead, she dashed back towards the kitchen and entered the house from the back, Amelia standing in front of her. Eliza’s heart almost jumped out of her chest at the sight of her friend, her breathing ragged.
“Where have you been?!” Amelia asked, clearly exasperated as her slightly thick country accent became more prominent than usual.
“Right here.” Eliza knew Amelia could see through her lie, but she was glad her friend did not press for details.
“Lady Leicester has been asking for you for quite some time. I gave her the excuse that you were seeing to thepreparations of the bedchambers for those who wish to nap right here and will be with her shortly.”
“Oh, thank you, Amelia.” Eliza smiled, clasping her friend’s hand in gratitude. “Can you tell me where she is?”
“Her private parlour.”
Without wasting another second, Eliza ran straight from the kitchen towards Aunty Beatrice’s private parlour, not wishing to anger her any more than she must have already been angered over Eliza’s absence.
Eliza knew Beatrice had the tendency of causing drama at the slightest bit of her faults, and she would do the same right now. Despite that, the nap allowed her to take all of it.
Eliza knocked on the door and entered, finding Aunty Beatrice sitting regally on the sofa, her loud, plum-coloured dress spread all around her. The fact that she was resting comfortably only indicated that the party must have been over, everyone returning to their homes or already asleep.
“Where were you, Beth?” Aunty Beatrice raised her voice only barely, but Eliza flinched at the coldness in her tone.
“Seeing to the bedchambers for those who might wish to sleep here, My Lady.”
“I do not care!” she shouted, “When I have been asking for you, you must leave everything else and rush immediately to me.”
“I will make sure I do just that in the future.”
“Good,” Aunty Beatrice sighed, finally calming down a little. “I need you to go straight up to Victoria’s bedchamber and see to her. She had a little too much to drink and might need some attention or some help, so you should attend to her personally.”
“At once, My Lady.”
Eliza knew this only meant that Aunty Beatrice did not wish the other servants to see Victoria in such a condition or make a fool out of herself in her drunken state.
The servants were bound to gossip, but it was not something hidden from the ton. Victoria’s drinking problem was known to everyone in both the country house and the London estate, but no one dared mention it due to her parents. Despite that, Eliza could sense how Aunty Beatrice still wanted to be as discreet as possible.
She entered Victoria’s bedchamber, and just as she had expected, Victoria lay on her bed appearing entirely dishevelled when just a few hours ago she had appeared to be the perfect young lady. Without saying a single word, Eliza helped Victoria stand up as she moaned in protest but quietly listened to Eliza.
“You must keep standing,” Eliza said, quickly undoing the buttons on her gown and taking it off.
Once the gown was off, she undid the corset and removed it along with the trousers and petticoat she was wearing underneath. With everything gone, Eliza helped Victoria slip into a silk nightgown and wiped her face and hands with awashcloth as if Victoria was not a woman her age but a child instead.
Once everything was done, Eliza took Victoria back towards her bed and helped her get in, tucking her in comfortably. However, rather than leaving her there, Eliza sat down beside her, not wanting to leave her cousin alone until she was fast asleep.
That was the least she could do.
Victoria turned around and faced Eliza, her eyes half closed with sleep and the alcohol in her body. Eliza only hoped she did not puke since it would only mean she would have to clean up after Victoria, and Eliza was too tired to indulge in such strenuous work at this hour.
“Beth?”
“Yes?
Victoria laughed loudly, her eyes opening and closing.
“That is not even your name,” Victoria said, “but you are Beth now.”
Eliza felt hot daggers being stabbed into her chest, but she stayed silent, not taking the bait Victoria wished for her to take. It was not the first time Victoria was saying something mean to Eliza, but she only needed to show that she did not care. The best thing to do was keep her head held high and not react to any insult thrown her way.
“You must go to sleep, Lady Victoria.”
“I sometimes laugh, Eliza,” she stuttered out, her words overlapping one another, “I laugh at how you used to have it all since you were just a little girl, and now you are nothing but a servant who empties my chamber pots.”
