Page 7 of The Marquess' Disguised Heiress
His valet looked at Eliza at the comment, an apologetic smile on the face of the young man, but Eliza nodded at him to assure him she was alright.
“Good morning.”
She placed his steaming mug of hot coffee on the table in his bedchamber and began to turn around to leave, but he hopped forward to block her path. Eliza looked up at him, unsure what he was trying to achieve.
“You look exceptionally charming this morning,” he said, sighing dreamily and baring his teeth.
“My room does not have a looking glass, so I thank you for the observation,” Eliza said seriously, leaving no room for even the slightest hint of a smile.
“You can take my looking glass, and I can simply get another.” He shrugged, motioning towards the large mirror in his room.
“Why, thank you,” Eliza replied, trying to appear sarcastically grateful, “but I am not obsessed with staring at my reflection for hours. You can go ahead and keep it.”
Without letting him add another remark, she ducked from underneath his arm and hurried straight out of the bedchamber, not wanting to be in his presence even a minute longer. He made her hate men even though Eliza was hopeful that not all men were as awful as Henry Russel.
Thank God, she sighed, stepping out at last.
Eliza’s eyes fell on the several smaller pieces of mirrors on the wall, and she walked closer, staring at her broken reflection. To her surprise, the braid appeared rather presentable, her blonde hair shining as a streak of sunlight from the open window fell on them.
Her gaze fell on her pale skin, which almost looked untouched except for the beauty marks under her right eye and over her left cheek. She had never liked them, but everyone had always told her that the marks were signs of beauty.
Am I beautiful? She wasn’t certain.
Shaking all such thoughts away, she made her way forward and knocked softly on Victoria’s door. Her ladies’ maid opened it, moving away so Eliza could see the bed.
Just as she had expected, Victoria was still asleep, having returned rather late last night, and Eliza was almost grateful for not having to face her.
“I will take this,” her maid whispered, taking the cup of tea that belonged to Victoria from Eliza’s tray, which was only left with one more cup.
“Thank you,” Eliza replied gratefully.
The maid, Trina, smiled at Eliza before closing the door, and Eliza made her way towards Margaret’s bedchamber. As Eliza knocked, Margaret opened the door and invited her inside as always. Out of all the Russel children, Margaret was the only one who was kind to Eliza and far different from the rest of her family.
“Good morning, Beth,” she greeted Eliza with her assigned name as Eliza placed her cup of hot chocolate and biscuits on the table.
“Good morning, Margaret.”
Eliza knew the reason Margaret was different was that her family treated her like the runt of the litter. She had failed to adopt the blonde hair and blue eyes, the common feature in both Henry and Victoria. Instead, she had her father’s raven hair and grey eyes, making her look slightly different.
She was plainer and a little heavier than what was considered attractive by fashionable standards. Eliza had heard Beatrice constantly reprimand Margaret to eat less to lose the extra body fat.
It was both insensitive and jarring, especially coming from a mother. However, Eliza could see how weak Margaret really was, for she had never been able to stand against the cruelty of her parents and siblings.
“I hope you have a good day,” Margaret wished her as Eliza exited the bedchamber and returned to the kitchen.
At least she is kind to me.
Eliza shook her head, not wanting to derail her train of thought, and carried the empty tray back to the kitchen. Just as she had expected, breakfast had been served in the dining room and all the household servants were gathered in the kitchen, having their own breakfast.
Eliza smiled, seeing Ralph, who now worked as a stable hand at the house, his loyalty not allowing him to leave despite his advanced age.
“Beth!” Ralph called out to her, patting the chair beside him so she could come sit down.
Her heart always melted whenever she realized that no matter what, Ralph always saved a seat for her whenever they were all eating in the kitchen, and if Eliza were out working, he would even assemble her a plate.
Just as she had expected, a small plate filled with tea and biscuits was placed on top of the chair, and Eliza sat down, putting the plate on her lap.
“Oh Ralph, you do so much for me.” She smiled at him, taking a sip of her steaming, hot tea.
