Page 49 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
In fact, he said that you must consider giving Eliza to him in marriage as soon as possible before she does something truly heinous, which would tarnish the family reputation.”
“Why would anything a servant does tarnish the family reputation, Victoria? Do not be ridiculous. Beth is as irrelevant as a person can be, and I do not even think Count Fife might be telling the truth. He could be making things up just so we would somehow let him marry Beth. I strictly told her to keep away from the guests, and she would not deny me in such a manner. Moreover, she is of noble breeding and would think twice before tarnishing her reputation in such a manner. Count Fife is spreading nothing but lies!”
Victoria was annoyed. She had already expected her mother not to believe her.
“But what if it is not a lie? What if it is the truth?”
“If it is the truth, it will come out in front of us itself, but I am certainly not going to believe Count Fife’s word about something this absurd. Imagine what the masked stranger might be even doing with a servant all alone in the alcove? I am sure he has better taste than that.”
Victoria knew her mother was making a point, but she still felt angry. What she was mainly angry about was how she herself wanted the enigmatic stranger, but according to Count Fife, he had been interested in spending time with Eliza.
Victoria could not help feeling jealous, for she certainly could not think about a man who she wanted to be with wanting Eliza instead.
“I still believe you should seriously consider Eliza’s proposal for Count Fife. He is desperate about marrying her, and it will be good riddance for us all.”
“Do not be ridiculous, Victoria.” Her mother stood up, walking towards the open window. “The reason our lives run this smoothly and we have everything we need before we even ask for it is because of Eliza. She is the one who handles the entire household, and you simply want me to get her married and get rid of her? That is never going to happen.”
“Really, Mother? I am sure someone else can take over the responsibility and manage just as well as Eliza does.”
“You are right,” her mother retorted, “but they will also ask for higher pay and more perks, and we are in no position to give anyone that. Let’s not forget that we are only living on Eliza’s large inheritance since your father has never worked a day in his life. We cannot just push Eliza out of our lives.”
Victoria sighed, knowing her mother was right but feeling annoyed all the same. She wished for Eliza to leave their lives as quickly as possible and stay away from the masked stranger as well.
She would only need to think of another reason for her mother to finally get her married and make her leave the house, even if it took Victoria a little longer to hatch another plan.
Chapter 13
Eliza patiently waited for the Russel carriage to disappear from the driveway and be out the door before rushing to the footpath between the earl’s estate and the Russel estate.
She truly couldn’t understand why the family had been so insistent on going to the earl’s house for dinner in a carriage when it was right next door, but Uncle Edgar’s need to maintain appearances was well known to her.
However, she was not to worry about anything. She was simply glad they were finally gone.
She peered down into the tree line, unable to see George making his way towards her. When he had asked her about the card game that might take place between the servants after the family was gone for dinner, she had immediately asked Lara to put his name down.
She had even formally invited him and could not lie to say that she looked forward to meeting him.
He was the reason she had decided to wear her best dress, a beautiful mint green colour, which made her eyes look brighter. Her hair was brushed and left in a half-braid, just the way he liked it.
Eliza had even taken care of applying the perfume her fairy godmother had sent her. Earlier, she had gone through the pains of steeping the flowers she collected from the forest and mixing them with oil to scent her hair and skin, but she was delighted to see how much better the perfume was.
“Beth!” George’s sweet voice reached her as he called her name, and Eliza looked up at once.
To her disappointment, his hair was tied up, but despite that, he looked extremely handsome. His white shirt was left open at the top, revealing the bronzed skin underneath. Eliza had to force herself to keep staring at his face lest her gaze stray to places that might not be appropriate.
As much as she had begun to like him, she was still unsure about his feelings and had no desire to give him the wrong idea.
“George!” she shouted back as he almost ran along the tree line towards her, stopping right at the footpath where she stood.
“I didn’t know you were coming to get me.”
Eliza blushed deeply, her eyes widening at his comment, even though she knew he did not mean to embarrass her one bit.
She had simply been so caught up in the excitement of seeing him that she had decided to get him herself without thinking of how it might appear. Although, she shrugged quickly, fixing a smile on her face.
“Well, you are my guest tonight, which is why you will be getting special treatment,” she lied, trying to hide her real intentions. “Of course I had to come get you myself.”
“That was a very wise thing to do, My Lady.”
