Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“Beth, what are you doing!?” Amelia stopped Eliza from pouring the tea, holding her hand from turning the pot towards the cup.

The sudden action forced Eliza to look down at the cups in the tray, and she realized how they were all overflowing with tea, the excess falling into the tray.

Eliza had not even realized she had not been looking and had caused such a mess. She quickly stopped and stared at the tray in horror, unsure of what had got into her.

This was certainly not the first time she had made this mistake since, for the past few days, she had found herself to be quite scatterbrained. She could not blame herself as her thoughts had been elsewhere, but now the other servants were beginning to notice.

“Pardon me,” she sighed, “I was not looking.”

“Are you quite alright, Beth?” Amelia asked, already removing the cups from the tray to clean it while Eliza stood at one end, simply staring.

“I think so.” She shrugged, unsure of how to answer the question.

She certainly could not tell Amelia that her thoughts were constantly on the stranger from the ball who had made an impression on her, which was simply not leaving her mind.

A few days had gone by since the ball, but he refused to leave her memory, his touch still lingering on her wrist as he had pulled her close. She still remembered the warmth she had felt while being snuggled against him underneath his coat, as she had slept soundly.

She simply could not deny her attraction to the man, even though the thought troubled her conscience.

But just as she could not stop thinking about the stranger, she could not stop thinking about George either. His kind nature, cheerful manner, easy conversation, and warm eyes drew her in like no one ever had before, and she always looked forward to spending time with him.

Eliza went to the woods every single day, hoping to run into him, and felt almost disappointed when he was absent. She was drawn to George, his laughter bringing her happiness.

This had been troubling her immensely for the past few days, and her mind was constantly occupied with these stressful thoughts.

Twice already, she had mixed up the family’s morning tea and had once even forgotten to add cream to Henry’s coffee. She had also been forgetting little chores assigned to her and had been spilling and breaking things.

It had been so extreme that Victoria’s insults no longer bothered her, and Eliza listened to them with no attention or interest. Everyone around her had noticed this, and several other servants had been concerned about her health.

“Why don’t you go up to your room and rest for a while? You have not been yourself for a few days now.”

Eliza nodded at Amelia, even though she knew Amelia hated to do anyone else’s chores, but the offer was too good to let go.

Amelia must not have expected Eliza to agree so easily because her expression immediately turned sour, but Eliza ignored that entirely and quickly hopped up through the servants’ stairwell to reach the attic.

Once inside her room, she left it unlocked since hardly anyone ever came up here. The attic was all the way at the top of the house and was both dark and gloomy, with several servants even claiming it to be haunted. Hence, Eliza never felt the need to lock her door since she knew no one was going to look for her.

Oh God, what is happening to me?

She propped down on her bed, staring at her room, which hardly looked like her own anymore. Since the mysterious fairy godmother had started sending her gifts almost every day, Eliza’s room had transformed, no longer appearing dark and gloomy.

It was now filled with mildly scented wax candles, sweets she had come to love and treasure, new bed sheets and soft cotton covers for her bed, hardcover books of fiction as if the fairy godmother knew her love for books, high-quality underthings, silk night suits, a brush, perfumes and about everything a young lady might require.

On days when Eliza did not have enough to eat in the house because Aunty Beatrice had the habit of being offended and forbidding her food, the fairy godmother would even send her food as if she somehow knew Eliza’s troubles.

It almost felt as if these things were sent by someone who knew her closely, but why did they feel the need to help her?

She had too many questions and no means to find answers to even one of them, and her confusion only increased. She had also wondered if this could be a trap of some kind and if she would eventually get caught for having these things, but the idea seemed rather ludicrous.

No such magical thing had ever happened to her in the past, but suddenly, everything seemed to be happening altogether.

“Who are you, fairy godmother?” she whispered into the empty room, staring at the ceiling.

Just as the words left her mouth, the door to the attic suddenly opened, and to her surprise, Amelia stood there, her mouth agape as she looked at Eliza’s room.

Eliza’s eyes widened at the unexpected surprise, not used to having anyone barge in on her in this manner. She should have locked her room, but now it was too late since Amelia had already seen everything.

“Beth?” Amelia whispered, closing the door behind her. “Where in the world did you get all of these things? Have you been stealing!?”

Eliza’s eyes widened at the accusation, and she stood up from her bed, pulling Amelia inside. She made Amelia sit down on the bed and sat down beside her, knowing she had no choice but to tell her the complete truth about these gifts.

“Do you really believe I could steal, Amelia?” Amelia was still looking around in wonder and Eliza could clearly see greed in her eyes as she stared at the treasure that belonged to Eliza.

“Of course not,” Amelia replied quickly, “but where else could you be getting these things from?”

“I will tell you everything, but you must swear to secrecy and that this will remain between the two of us?”

“I promise,” Amelia quickly agreed.

“I have a fairy godmother.”

“A what?” Amelia was confused.

“I am afraid I do not know who it is, but someone has been sending me gifts. They are waiting for me in my room when I return almost every day, and they all come attached with a note,” Eliza picked up her goose feather pillow, extracted the notes she had been keeping safely, and handed them to Amelia. “See. They all simply mention that it is a gift from my fairy godmother.

When I found the first one, I was naturally worried and even tried asking the guards and footmen if they had seen anyone outside my window, but no one had seen anyone.

I even waited for Lady Leicester or Lady Victoria to somehow come here and accuse me of stealing their things as a ploy to humiliate me, but none of that has happened either.

I do not know who this person is, but I am very thankful to them for taking care of me in this manner because I have come to believe that this is not a trick, and someone truly wishes me to have these things.”

Amelia went through the notes before handing them back to Eliza, a rather artificial smile on her lips. Eliza could feel the anger emanating from her friend, and it was evident that she was jealous.

However, Eliza could not understand the emotion. If the situation had been reversed and it was Amelia who was getting the gifts, Eliza would have felt nothing but happiness for her friend. But Amelia was clearly trying to hide her true emotions behind a mask.

“That must make you feel rather special,” Amelia said, sounding odd. “I am quite pleased for you.”

Eliza wished to scoff because it was clear how unhappy Amelia actually was.

“Why don’t you pick anything you would like to have?” Eliza quickly said, hoping this offer would curb Amelia’s unhappiness and jealousy. She had no desire to lose a friend over these things, and if sharing her thoughts with Amelia might be helpful, Eliza would do just that.

“Truly?” Amelia’s eyes were shining.

“Of course.”

Amelia stood up immediately, looking around the room while Eliza remained seated on her bed. She stayed quiet as she watched Amelia pick up more things than was polite, but she had no desire to interject and make her feel inferior or possibly even more jealous.

Amelia picked up several of the sweets Eliza had come to love, along with a few underthings and a nightgown. Eliza felt as if she wished to pick up everything she saw but had to control her urges. Her greed was evident through her actions, yet Eliza was not going to act like her.

She understood that Amelia came from a family with no means and no money, and all this luxury was new to her. She could not blame the poor girl for wishing to have it all.

Despite that, Eliza would have happily shared everything with her if she had not appeared jealous, but her jealousy had almost been the undoing of her friendship.

Eliza felt as if she needed to stay careful from now on. She could no longer trust Amelia with everything in her heart.

***

Eliza made her way towards the woods, finding a little time for herself after completing her last afternoon chore. She enjoyed walking here since she knew the woods like the back of her hand, and they were so well concealed behind the house that no one would be able to find her here unless someone came looking.

She enjoyed the privacy and the hope of a chance encounter with George. This was where they had come across each other the very first time.

Only a few moments later, the sound of barking reached her, and she looked up to find George coming towards her, his two large Mastiffs by his side.

She could not explain it, but the dogs somehow suited his personality, them being just as large, imposing, and protective as George was. The first time she had seen him with them, she had been reluctant to pet them, but the beasts had been oddly warm, letting her come close.

The dogs apparently belonged to the earl, but George looked extremely comfortable with them.

“Beth!” He called her out, and she smiled at him, waiting for him to reach her.

“Good afternoon, George.”

She wondered if he had somehow known she was going to show up in the woods at exactly this time, and he had been waiting for her. Their meetings, even though purely based on chance, seemed too ideal more often than not, as if they were meant to happen or were designed to happen.

“Good afternoon.” He smiled his customary smile, warmth radiating from his russet eyes. “I am really glad to see you. It has been quite some time since we last met.”

“Four days, to be precise.”

“Have you been counting?” Eliza blushed at the question but quickly shook her head to hide her embarrassment. She certainly could not accept that she had indeed been counting and praying for these days to be over so she would be able to see him again. That was all she had wanted, after all. His company.

“I just tend to remember things.” She shrugged, sitting down on the log behind them.

George left the dogs on their own and sat beside her, turning around in a way that he faced her while she looked ahead. Eliza could feel his eyes on her face, but she remained steady, not letting the intensity of his gaze affect her thinking abilities, even though it was rather impossible to do. George had a certain effect on her, which was unparalleled to all else.

“What has been happening with your life, Beth? Tell me something new. I feel as if it has been days since we have had a proper conversation.”

Eliza felt her heart lurch at the question as an urge to tell him almost everything filled her. Lara and Ralph were motherly and fatherly figures to her, and she certainly could not share everything she felt with them.

Amelia no longer seemed like a friend. Hence, Eliza was left with no one to whom she could pour her heart out. The intensity of her thoughts and emotions overwhelmed her, and she needed to speak to someone about it.

And George was right there, his understanding gaze trained on her as if he would gladly listen to anything she had to say.

“You really care to know?” she asked softly, finally looking at him.

“Of course.” He nodded enthusiastically. “I always enjoy knowing things about you.”

“Oh, George,” Eliza sighed, “a lot has been going on in my head.”

“Tell me, Beth.”

“My life has never been as chaotic as it is right now, and things just seem out of control.”

“How so?” he asked, clearly invested.

“At the masquerade a few days ago, I met a man who was clearly a noble lord, and he left quite an impression on me. He had dark hair tied into a ponytail and wore a black evening coat with breeches. I do not know what it was about him, but he kept seeking my company and wanting to have a conversation with me despite being the most enigmatic man of the evening and all the ladies asking for his time and attention. He kept leaving the ball and finding me, and I cannot seem to put him out of my mind now. It just made me curious about why a noble lord was seeking my company over the ladies of the ton and made me wonder if he could have dishonourable intentions.”

“Perhaps he saw in you what none of the other ladies possessed. Did he try to get too forward with you?”

“No, he didn’t. But I am just a servant, and even if he was respectable, it simply made me feel confused.” Eliza sighed, “On top of that, I have a fairy godmother.”

“A fairy godmother? My goodness, how did you come about that?”

“I wish I knew.” Eliza chuckled, no longer sure if her life was more real or a complete fantasy. “She has been sending me gifts and other things of the finest quality. She sent me books, food, sweets, clothes, and everything I have always wished to have. I can hardly understand how this is even happening or how she even knows what I need or who I am. I am grateful for the gifts, but I am afraid they might cause me some trouble.”

“What trouble?”

“What if the other servants, a friend of mine perhaps, see them and get jealous?” She had almost named Amelia but decided not to, knowing fully well that at some point George might come across Amelia, and it would only make him sour towards her.

Amelia was not a bad person, and Eliza understood her jealousy, but could she really be called a friend?

“Beth, if someone is truly your friend, they will never be jealous of your health, wealth, and happiness. And if you do sense even the slightest bit of jealousy in their demeanour towards you, you must understand at once that they are anything but a friend. It is as simple as that. You are worrying too much over nothing. I think you are extremely lucky to have found a fairy godmother, and you must cherish everything she is sending you.”

“You are right,” she sighed, slumping against the tree bark behind her.

“Now, as for the matter of the stranger from the masquerade, have you come to grow a liking towards the man?”

Eliza blushed crimson at the question, unsure of how to answer it.

“I won’t call it liking the man, but I am simply intrigued about his identity. He gave no name and never removed his mask to show his face.”

“Ah.” George smiled as if knowingly. “Was he about my height and rather strong? Because I do recall seeing someone who matched your description.”

“Yes, for a second, I thought it could have been you.” She laughed softly. “But I dismissed the thought, knowing how could you be there at the masquerade dressed as a noble. It made no sense.”

“You are right,” he replied, “but I know who you are talking about. I ran into this enigmatic stranger when I came to pick up the earl in the early hours of the morning. The earl was still inside, and the man was just leaving, and we had a chance to have a little bit of a conversation.”

Eliza sat up straighter, completely shocked at the revelation. She could have never expected George to have met the stranger.

“Are you quite serious?”

“Absolutely.” George chuckled, “Do you wish to see the man again?”

“Do you know the man?” Eliza was taken aback.

“I do not know him, no,” he immediately said, shaking his head, “but I do happen to have excellent tracking abilities, and I can find him if you wish to see him again. I would do this for you. Moreover, I happened to see the two of you together in the garden, and I believe he saw me as well, which is why he stopped to have a conversation with me so I do not get the wrong idea.”

Eliza was stunned.

“What were you doing in the garden?!” Eliza knew no one showed up to the alcove, especially at night.

“Well …” he shrugged. “I tried searching for you in the kitchen, but a servant told me you had gone outside. I couldn’t find you anywhere, so I came to the alcove looking for you.”

She could never have thought that George would end up seeing her with the stranger while she was asleep on his lap without even knowing about it. She had deliberately left out the intimate details of their encounter while telling George about him because it just felt wrong.

It almost felt as if she was cheating on George, betraying him one way or another. Although, he seemed completely comfortable with the conversation.

“Did you say something to him about seeing the two of us together?” Eliza asked.

“I simply warned him off for taking liberties with you, and the man claimed he only had honourable intentions and no untoward feelings or ideas towards you.”

Eliza had never been more embarrassed. She had met George at least twice after the masquerade, and he had not once mentioned this encounter, yet here he was, recounting all the details.

Her heart leapt out even more to him, for she knew he must have only hidden it from her to make sure that she was not embarrassed of the details.

“I hardly expected to find myself in the stranger’s arms upon waking up. I had slept on the bucket leaning against the wall, but he gathered me in his arms so I could sleep more comfortably.”

“He definitely did the right thing.” George smiled. “Besides, I am certain you will never do anything to taint your pristine reputation even one bit. I am simply glad he could make you comfortable enough to sleep leaning against him, for I know you needed that sleep after working tirelessly the entire day. If there is anyone who knows how hard you work at the house, it is me.”

Eliza’s belly fluttered at George’s intense gaze as he stared at her, her heart taking a leap in her chest. Something about the way George said things to her made her always want to simply sit down and continue staring at him with all the love she could muster.

He invoked feelings of care in her heart, and she wanted to spend all her time in his company, even if that were impossible.

She could never have expected herself to be one of those women who would fall for two men at the same time without hardly knowing either of them well enough.

She still had so much to find out about George, and the stranger from the masquerade was both nameless and faceless to her. For some reason, both of them felt oddly familiar to her, their aura comforting. Perhaps that was simply part of the charm they possessed, which drew Eliza in towards them like nothing else ever had.

“Beth?” he called out to her, waving his hands in front of her face. It snapped her back to her senses, and she looked at George.

“Yes?”

“Can you come meet me here in the woods tomorrow? At this time only?”

“Why?” she asked, confused. They had never made plans to meet in this manner before, and all their meetings were pure coincidence and luck.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise for me?” Eliza giggled. “Why do you wish to give me a surprise?”

“I would like to think we are friends,” he said with a smile. ‘Aren’t we? Can a friend not give his friend a surprise?”

Eliza knew her attraction and feelings towards George extended far beyond simply friendship, but she stayed silent, simply nodding at him.

She enjoyed being around him because he was different from anyone else she had ever met. He was her friend simply for the sake of it, no ulterior motives attached to it.

She could sense he cared for her and would always be there whenever she needed him. That was what drew them even closer to one another since Eliza could feel a sense of kinship with him, as if they were meant to always be together, beside one another.

Besides, she had already decided that he was the only person left in her life with whom she could share things. She had no other friends or listening ears, and she needed someone to come to when her heart felt too heavy.

George was her person. She had poured out her problems to him today, and he had replied sensibly, helping her understand things she was choosing to ignore or not pay attention to.

She knew he was going to be there for her through everything, and she needed that comfort in her life.

“Of course we are friends,” she finally replied, smiling at him at last.

“In that case, I will be waiting here for you tomorrow at this time only. I expect you will come?”

“I will find a way to make it. I promise.”

George clasped her hand in excitement, and she let him, even his touch oddly familiar.

“Thank you,” he whispered, drawing closer to her until the two of them were just side by side, both staring ahead.

Eliza breathed in deeply, his faint earthen scent enjoyable for her and leaned into his shoulder as the pair sat there in silence. That was the most peace Eliza had felt in days.