Part 7
Liz stopped. "Tomorrow night?" she asked, unsure of what she had just heard.
"Yes," Max said without any explanations.
Liz inwardly was confused. She hadn't meant to snap at him before, when he asked her if she was sad. The truth was, she did feel sad. Right before he had asked her the question, she had been thinking to herself whether she had been foolish or not. For some reason, when it came to marriage, Liz had always just assumed that she would marry a man whom she loved and he would love her back.
Now back in her room, Liz was exhausted. All she wanted to do was sleep.
The next morning, Liz was ready to begin another day. As she headed toward the kitchen for Max's breakfast, she heard the cook and the maid talking. She caught the name 'Mr. Evans' being spoken and crept closer to hear what they were saying.
'Did you hear? She's back in town!"
"Who?"
"You know. Her! The one the Master was engaged to those years ago!"
"You don't mean…"
"Aye. The one that broke his heart."
Liz stood in the dim hallway, stunned at what she was hearing. The news that Max once had been engaged had stunned her but hearing that his heart had been broken really shocked her. She barely had time to contemplate what she heard before Mrs. Fairfax came up behind her and said, "Liz? What are you doing here standing in the hallway? Don't you have to get Mr. Evan's breakfast?" With that, Liz walked into the kitchen, feeling a bit guilty.
However, the cook and the maid didn't notice her look and handed her the tray with the food. Liz took it and headed up toward Max's study. She knocked on the door and heard a "Come in."
When Liz stepped in, she could see that Max was sitting at his desk, apparently working on something. She stood uncertainly for a minute before asking, "Where would you like this, sir?" He looked up at her and answered, "Over here on my desk will be fine, thank you."
Liz walked over and set down the tray. Max stopped writing and leaned back in his chair. He smiled pleasantly at her and Liz found herself giving him a smile in return. "How are you doing this morning, Liz?" Liz was pouring Max a cup of tea when she inadvertently spilled it onto the desk. She instantly apologized and grabbed a napkin. She started mopping the table up before Max closed his hand over her wrist to stop her. "It's all right, Liz, I can clean it myself," Max said, his eyes locked onto hers.
Liz suddenly felt Max's hand still over her wrist and she forced her eyes to tear away from his gaze down to her wrist. Max held on for a second longer before he released her. For some reason, Liz felt a disappointment almost when he let go. Suddenly, what she had heard from the cook came rushing back to her. Her eyes snapped back up to Max's face where he was staring intently at her.
~*~Max's POV~*~
When he first grabbed her wrist, he never wanted to let go. However, he forced himself to and looked at her. As her eyes reached his, he could read pity in it. Pity and confusion. Max didn't know why she had pity toward him…unless, yes, she had learned the truth, or at least had heard the rumors. He inwardly sighed. He knew it would not be long before she found out, but only on the third day…
Just then, they heard someone knocking on the door. Grateful for a distraction, he called out, "Come in." Mrs. Fairfax bustled in and said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Evans, but I have some very important matters to discuss with you."
"Yes, what is it, Mrs. Fairfax?"
"I realize that I am not to leave for two more weeks, sir, but I have just received a letter from my son asking me to go to him as soon as possible. His wife has fallen and is not feeling too well and he wants me to go help her get back on her feet. I know this is rather short notice but…"
Max waved his hand impatiently. "I understand, Mrs. Fairfax. You must go immediately. Well, I certainly will not keep you. Here is your pay with a little extra for all the years that you have been here. I wish to thank you for your loyalty to my family." In reality, Max was a little sorry to see her go. She was someone that had always been there, even when he was a small child.
Mrs. Fairfax thanked him profusely but then hesitantly began, "But I am not quite sure that Miss Parker is quite ready to take care all the duties of the household."
Max calmly looked up and said, "I have no doubt that Miss Parker will do very well even though she has not been here for very long. But, I suppose, we should ask her. What do you think, Miss Parker," he said, with an amused tone. If he had learned anything about her in the last day or so, it was that she was independent and determined at what she did.
Liz met his gaze and he couldn't help but give a half-smile at her. He raised his eyebrows just slightly, as if daring her to say 'Yes, I can take care of everything." She turned to Mrs. Fairfax and said, "I am sorry to see you leaving so soon, Mrs. Fairfax, but I am quite sure that I can manage this household. You have shown me the basics yesterday and I am sure that if I need any help, the servants will there." She then faced Max again and her eyes seemed to say, "I have accepted the challenge of running this household, and I will succeed."
Mrs. Fairfax eyed the two of them uncertainly, but said, "Well, I am very pleased to hear that. If you will excuse me, I will have to get my things together."
Max watched her leave before realizing that she might not have transportation. He called out, "Mrs. Fairfax, what time would you like the carriage to be here?"
She gave him a puzzled look. "Carriage, sir?"
"Well, how else are you going to get to your son's house?"
"My gracious, I did not even think of that!" Max resisted the urge to shake his head and laugh. Mrs. Fairfax had always been like that, forgetting the most important things. "I think I would like to leave at noon, Mr. Evans. But you mustn't trouble yourself…"
"It is only fair, Mrs. Fairfax. You once troubled yourself for me over a carriage ride, remember?" Max said, with a genuine smile.
Mrs. Fairfax's face broke into a smile and she laughed at their private joke. "Very well. Thank you, sir." And with that, she left the room.
~*~End of Max's POV and start of both POVs~*~
Liz stood quietly while she watched the interaction between Max and Mrs. Fairfax. It surprised her to hear Max offer Mrs. Fairfax his carriage, but it floored her to see Max really smile. It brought a sparkle of life in his eyes that made them all the more beautiful to look at. And his face just seemed so relaxed, as if there was nothing in the world that was worrying him.
When Mrs. Fairfax left the room, Max was chuckling over some memory. Liz looked at him curiously, hoping that he would explain the joke to her. He caught her look and said, "As you know, Mrs. Fairfax has been here for a long time, even when I was a child. One day, my mother went to the city and I wanted to join her, but she would not let me. I begged and cried and threw a tantrum, but still she said 'no.' Poor Mrs. Fairfax felt sorry for me so she whispered in my ear to go hide in the back trunk of the carriage and not get out until I was sure that I was there. When my mother saw me, she was so angry. However, there was nothing she could do, she could not send me back home. I ended up following her all day while she shopped. I remember thinking, 'I crouched for hours in that thing for this?!' It was true, I was there in that trunk for hours. It was a good thing Mrs. Fairfax helped me because if I did it on my own, I am sure I would have closed the lid completely and suffocated. Poor Mrs. Fairfax must have worried tremendously that she would get in trouble. Luckily, my mother thought it was my impish idea and Mrs. Fairfax never got caught."
Liz had to smile at Max's childhood. She could definitely imagine him as a mischievous child. She could feel her first impression of him as having no heart was rapidly fading away. "Did [i]you[/i] get in trouble once you got home?"
Max laughed again. "I got a whipping from Father. Or at least, I was supposed to. Once we were alone though, he said, 'Don't tell your mother I didn't punish you. I think having to follow her shopping was punishment enough.' My father was like that, he never once physically punished me." Max's smile faded as he thought about his parents. Liz could see his good mood fading and she was about to ask if he was all right when he cleared his throat and said, "Well, don't forget this evening, Liz," and busied himself by focusing on his breakfast.
Liz stopped. "Tomorrow night?" she asked, unsure of what she had just heard.
"Yes," Max said without any explanations.
Liz inwardly was confused. She hadn't meant to snap at him before, when he asked her if she was sad. The truth was, she did feel sad. Right before he had asked her the question, she had been thinking to herself whether she had been foolish or not. For some reason, when it came to marriage, Liz had always just assumed that she would marry a man whom she loved and he would love her back.
Now back in her room, Liz was exhausted. All she wanted to do was sleep.
The next morning, Liz was ready to begin another day. As she headed toward the kitchen for Max's breakfast, she heard the cook and the maid talking. She caught the name 'Mr. Evans' being spoken and crept closer to hear what they were saying.
'Did you hear? She's back in town!"
"Who?"
"You know. Her! The one the Master was engaged to those years ago!"
"You don't mean…"
"Aye. The one that broke his heart."
Liz stood in the dim hallway, stunned at what she was hearing. The news that Max once had been engaged had stunned her but hearing that his heart had been broken really shocked her. She barely had time to contemplate what she heard before Mrs. Fairfax came up behind her and said, "Liz? What are you doing here standing in the hallway? Don't you have to get Mr. Evan's breakfast?" With that, Liz walked into the kitchen, feeling a bit guilty.
However, the cook and the maid didn't notice her look and handed her the tray with the food. Liz took it and headed up toward Max's study. She knocked on the door and heard a "Come in."
When Liz stepped in, she could see that Max was sitting at his desk, apparently working on something. She stood uncertainly for a minute before asking, "Where would you like this, sir?" He looked up at her and answered, "Over here on my desk will be fine, thank you."
Liz walked over and set down the tray. Max stopped writing and leaned back in his chair. He smiled pleasantly at her and Liz found herself giving him a smile in return. "How are you doing this morning, Liz?" Liz was pouring Max a cup of tea when she inadvertently spilled it onto the desk. She instantly apologized and grabbed a napkin. She started mopping the table up before Max closed his hand over her wrist to stop her. "It's all right, Liz, I can clean it myself," Max said, his eyes locked onto hers.
Liz suddenly felt Max's hand still over her wrist and she forced her eyes to tear away from his gaze down to her wrist. Max held on for a second longer before he released her. For some reason, Liz felt a disappointment almost when he let go. Suddenly, what she had heard from the cook came rushing back to her. Her eyes snapped back up to Max's face where he was staring intently at her.
~*~Max's POV~*~
When he first grabbed her wrist, he never wanted to let go. However, he forced himself to and looked at her. As her eyes reached his, he could read pity in it. Pity and confusion. Max didn't know why she had pity toward him…unless, yes, she had learned the truth, or at least had heard the rumors. He inwardly sighed. He knew it would not be long before she found out, but only on the third day…
Just then, they heard someone knocking on the door. Grateful for a distraction, he called out, "Come in." Mrs. Fairfax bustled in and said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Evans, but I have some very important matters to discuss with you."
"Yes, what is it, Mrs. Fairfax?"
"I realize that I am not to leave for two more weeks, sir, but I have just received a letter from my son asking me to go to him as soon as possible. His wife has fallen and is not feeling too well and he wants me to go help her get back on her feet. I know this is rather short notice but…"
Max waved his hand impatiently. "I understand, Mrs. Fairfax. You must go immediately. Well, I certainly will not keep you. Here is your pay with a little extra for all the years that you have been here. I wish to thank you for your loyalty to my family." In reality, Max was a little sorry to see her go. She was someone that had always been there, even when he was a small child.
Mrs. Fairfax thanked him profusely but then hesitantly began, "But I am not quite sure that Miss Parker is quite ready to take care all the duties of the household."
Max calmly looked up and said, "I have no doubt that Miss Parker will do very well even though she has not been here for very long. But, I suppose, we should ask her. What do you think, Miss Parker," he said, with an amused tone. If he had learned anything about her in the last day or so, it was that she was independent and determined at what she did.
Liz met his gaze and he couldn't help but give a half-smile at her. He raised his eyebrows just slightly, as if daring her to say 'Yes, I can take care of everything." She turned to Mrs. Fairfax and said, "I am sorry to see you leaving so soon, Mrs. Fairfax, but I am quite sure that I can manage this household. You have shown me the basics yesterday and I am sure that if I need any help, the servants will there." She then faced Max again and her eyes seemed to say, "I have accepted the challenge of running this household, and I will succeed."
Mrs. Fairfax eyed the two of them uncertainly, but said, "Well, I am very pleased to hear that. If you will excuse me, I will have to get my things together."
Max watched her leave before realizing that she might not have transportation. He called out, "Mrs. Fairfax, what time would you like the carriage to be here?"
She gave him a puzzled look. "Carriage, sir?"
"Well, how else are you going to get to your son's house?"
"My gracious, I did not even think of that!" Max resisted the urge to shake his head and laugh. Mrs. Fairfax had always been like that, forgetting the most important things. "I think I would like to leave at noon, Mr. Evans. But you mustn't trouble yourself…"
"It is only fair, Mrs. Fairfax. You once troubled yourself for me over a carriage ride, remember?" Max said, with a genuine smile.
Mrs. Fairfax's face broke into a smile and she laughed at their private joke. "Very well. Thank you, sir." And with that, she left the room.
~*~End of Max's POV and start of both POVs~*~
Liz stood quietly while she watched the interaction between Max and Mrs. Fairfax. It surprised her to hear Max offer Mrs. Fairfax his carriage, but it floored her to see Max really smile. It brought a sparkle of life in his eyes that made them all the more beautiful to look at. And his face just seemed so relaxed, as if there was nothing in the world that was worrying him.
When Mrs. Fairfax left the room, Max was chuckling over some memory. Liz looked at him curiously, hoping that he would explain the joke to her. He caught her look and said, "As you know, Mrs. Fairfax has been here for a long time, even when I was a child. One day, my mother went to the city and I wanted to join her, but she would not let me. I begged and cried and threw a tantrum, but still she said 'no.' Poor Mrs. Fairfax felt sorry for me so she whispered in my ear to go hide in the back trunk of the carriage and not get out until I was sure that I was there. When my mother saw me, she was so angry. However, there was nothing she could do, she could not send me back home. I ended up following her all day while she shopped. I remember thinking, 'I crouched for hours in that thing for this?!' It was true, I was there in that trunk for hours. It was a good thing Mrs. Fairfax helped me because if I did it on my own, I am sure I would have closed the lid completely and suffocated. Poor Mrs. Fairfax must have worried tremendously that she would get in trouble. Luckily, my mother thought it was my impish idea and Mrs. Fairfax never got caught."
Liz had to smile at Max's childhood. She could definitely imagine him as a mischievous child. She could feel her first impression of him as having no heart was rapidly fading away. "Did [i]you[/i] get in trouble once you got home?"
Max laughed again. "I got a whipping from Father. Or at least, I was supposed to. Once we were alone though, he said, 'Don't tell your mother I didn't punish you. I think having to follow her shopping was punishment enough.' My father was like that, he never once physically punished me." Max's smile faded as he thought about his parents. Liz could see his good mood fading and she was about to ask if he was all right when he cleared his throat and said, "Well, don't forget this evening, Liz," and busied himself by focusing on his breakfast.