"I think ... that you deserve to find the love you seek, sir. Your story is sad to hear and I pity Celine. She had your heart but did not value it," Liz said softly, still digesting Max's story.
Max's eyes shone softly when he said, "So, I do have a heart now that is worth valuing?" His voice had a slight teasing tone.
Liz however remained serious when she said, "Yes." She paused before continuing on. "Mr. Evans, you once asked me why all my paintings looked sad. I think I am ready to tell you the truth about it." Her words surprised her. She didn't think she would ever be able to tell anyone her life, much less her employer, someone she had known for only a few days.
Max turned all his attention to Liz's voice. It was so easy to lose himself in her. Just listening to her, he could feel the world disappearing and it was only them.
"I am a runaway."
Those words shocked Max. "Excuse me? A… runaway?"
"Please hear me out, Mr. Evans," Liz's voice pleaded. She wanted him to know everything, it was too hard for her to keep everything bottled up.
"My father is Jeffrey Parker – "
"Jeffrey Parker, the businessman in Northampton? I've heard of … Elizabeth…" realization dawned of Max's face as he suddenly remembered news he had heard a month ago. He had been in London and there were notices in all the papers looking for an Elizabeth Parker. It had never occurred to Max that this Elizabeth and that Elizabeth were one in the same.
"What is it?" Liz panicked. It was obvious to her by Max's reaction that he had heard of her. This meant that her family, particularly her father, was looking for her.
"Your father is looking for you. He is offering a large reward to anyone who returns you," Max said, a knot forming in his stomach.
"Mr. Evans, please. Do not tell anyone about me. I can't return, I just can't!" tears came to Liz's eyes as the thought of her being forced to go back and marry Kyle.
"Liz, why? Why are you running away. Your father is rich and you have status, you shouldn't be a housekeeper."
"You told your story, Mr. Evans. Let me tell mine," Liz said with a half-smile, lightly scolding him.
"Well, fine, if you insist, Miss Parker," Max said, matching her tone.
"I insist," Liz said smiling. Her smile faded a bit when she began again. "When you talked about your parents earlier and all the time you spent together, I was jealous. It was so obvious to me how much you cared for them and still do. In return, they must have loved you very much. Mine were nothing like that. As a young child growing up, I rarely saw them.
"I was mainly raised by my nanny and had various tutors. I was not allowed out of the house very often and had no friends. When I did see my parents, it was only at parties my parents held. For a few minutes, I would be called down and be paraded. I always had to act politely and correctly and perfectly. Anything less and I would be punished.
"Drawing was a way for me to escape. I used to spend hours just drawing away. By being so absorbed in my work, I was able to escape from my life. But, as you can see, even in my pictures, my life was sad. I was very lonesome. I was trapped. I knew nothing of the world, all I knew was my house. I use to look out the windows and just stare at the birds, wishing I could fly like they could to faraway places.
"I treasured every minute I was allowed outside. I lived my life like this, year after year. When I was twelve, my nanny was fired and I was completely isolated for most of the day. One day, my parents announced to me that I was to marry a Kyle Valenti. Apparently, the marriage would complete a business deal my father had made with Kyle's father. Kyle was…very cruel toward me in the short time we had talked. He belittled me. I knew I could not marry him.
"One night, when my parents were away at a banquet, I arranged for a carriage to come and I left. I traveled to London, where I could easily get lost in the crowd. I had some money but not a lot. I found a job as a housekeeper in that area. I worked there for a while and saved up some more money. One day though, I saw Kyle on the street. I hid right away but I knew I had to leave. That's when I saw your advertisement in the paper. Mrs. Fairfax answered immediately and I left for here."
With a dramatic smile, she looked Max in the eye and said, "And that, I am afraid, is my life. Nothing very exciting, I'm afraid."
Shaking his head in disbelief, " 'Nothing very exciting?' Liz, then I'd like to see what you consider exciting!" Max was still in shock from hearing Liz's story. To have the courage to take control of her life like that… "So you've been alone for most of your life?"
"Yes. So, will you be collecting on in the reward?" Liz asked nervously. She really didn't think Max would turn her in to her father, but she couldn't be sure. Max confused her. One moment he could appear to be very cold, but she felt deep in her heart that he wasn't.
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, will you be contacting my father about my whereabouts?" Liz said, carefully avoiding his eyes.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Of course not! That's why I'm here," Liz said, her heart rising a little.
Max said lightly, "Well then, I guess that settles that. Now it's late, we'll talk again later."
