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“My Lady?” The maid rushed to her side, eyes wide with concern. They were a clear blue, like the sky above.
“I’m fine,” Elizabeth whispered. “I simply grew a bit overwhelmed by my emotions, is all.”
“Would you like for me to prepare something for you?” the maid asked worriedly, her brow creased.
Elizabeth slowly shook her head, shooting to her feet. “Rather, I would like to be ready as quickly as possible. I should not keep His Grace waiting.”
“Y-yes, My Lady.” The maid took a step back as Elizabeth rushed by her, heading towards the vanity table sitting on the other side of the bedchamber. She sank before the mirror, tucking her hair behind her ears with a scowl.
Her face was quite a mess. Her cheeks had splotches of red, evidence of the tears she’d shed last night. And if that wasn’t bad enough, her eyes were quite swollen. She would not be in her right mind if she allowed William to see her like this!
“Excuse me?” she called to the maid. “What is your name?”
The maid paused in the process of rummaging through the bag Elizabeth had carried with her, standing straight as she said, “Minnie, My Lady.”
“It is nice to meet you, Minnie.” Elizabeth gave her a kind smile before facing her reflection again. “Could you fetch ice for me? Bring it in a cloth as well, please.”
“Yes, My Lady.” Without hesitation, the maid rushed out of the room.
Elizabeth touched the bags under her eyes once again, grimacing at the sight. Had they been this bad last night? The thought made her want to bury her head in her hands. She’d dreamt about seeing William again so many times and not for a second did she think she would cry like that. The tears would not stop, even though she was more happy than disappointed.
He was certainly not the William she’d once known. She remembered him to be strong-willed, rash, and so energetic that she could hardly keep up. He’d always had a lust for life, happy, and willing to take on whatever he could for the sake of his entertainment. That boy would have willingly thrown himself in harm’s way if it meant protecting her, and she’d seen a glimpse of that last night when he’d come to her rescue. But that was where the similarities ended.
He’d never been rude to her, never been so short and distant. Like a cold wall, he’d kept her at a distance, with none of the warmth he’d shown her before. Elizabeth didn’t know who this man was, but she’d already come this far. Now that she’d met her objective, she would not stop until she’d figured it all out.
Soon enough, Minnie returned with a piece of ice wrapped in a clean cloth. Elizabeth pressed it against her eyes as Minnie laid out a gown and proceeded to fix her hair. She did a simple style, gathering most of Elizabeth’s blonde strands to the back of her head and leaving tendrils to frame her face. It matched the gown she would wear, another one that had been Patience’s. As Elizabeth got dressed, she ruefully wished she had brought one of her own gowns with her for William to see. At the very least, she was grateful her scars were covered and that Minnie had not said anything—had not even faltered in her movements—though she must have seen them.
When the time came at last for her to go downstairs for breakfast, Elizabeth was positively shaking in her excitement. She kept her hands by her side, to keep from nervously fidgeting with her fingers. Minnie stayed with her the entire way, escorting her to the drawing room, but when they came upon the butler standing by the door, she curtsied and left.
“My Lady,” the butler greeted, sweeping his arm out as he gave her a deep bow. “His Grace awaits you in the drawing room.”
“Yes, I have been told,” she responded, her voice breathy. It was difficult keeping her enthusiasm from shining through her words. She licked her lips, hoping the butler wouldn’t be able to tell. “What is your name?”
“My name is Harold Jennings, My Lady,” he responded instantly, standing with his back ramrod straight. His black hair was streaked grey, wrinkles lining his face. But despite his obvious age, there was an odd air about him, as if he was more than what met the eye. He didn’t quite look at her either, but slightly over her shoulder.
Though she was eager to go into the drawing room, eager to see William again, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Have you been working with His Grace for long?”
Harold shook his head, closing his eyes briefly before he reopened them and settled his gaze back over her shoulder. “I was hired by the late Duke of Brandon only five years’ prior, My Lady.”
