Page 26

CHAPTER 26

ELIZABETH

“ G ood morning, Lady Elizabeth. I have your chocolate and biscuits all ready for you.”

An older woman stood at the foot of my bed, holding a large silver tray. She had dark gray hair and a large matronly bosom.

“Who are you?”

She gave me a confused look and searched up at the ceilings for a moment as if uncertain how to answer… or as if she were looking for something… cameras?

Recovering, she smiled. “I’m your lady’s maid, Parker, of course. I’ve been with you since they let down your skirts and put up your hair,” she beamed. “When your parents died, His Grace, Lord love him, insisted that I join his employ. He knew your mind was troubled and hoped a friendly face would do you some good.”

A backstory.

She was reciting a backstory.

Certainly not for my benefit.

She began clucking like a mother hen as she walked around the bed undoing the buckles of my restraints. Funny, I hadn’t even noticed they were on. It was odd what you could be forced to become used to.

Just then there was a discreet knock on the door before a young woman with bright red hair walked in carrying a familiar dress. “I have Lady Elizabeth’s dress, Mrs. Parker.”

“Thank you, Rose. Please place it in the wardrobe.”

Another new Rose. A new Parker.

I imagined I would find that the entire servants’ quarters had been recast.

New Parker placed the tray over my lap. The scent of warm pastries and hot chocolate was now more familiar to me than the pumpkin spiced lattes I used to get at… that place… what was it called? Dammit. I couldn’t even remember. Already everything was starting to slip away.

There was a bitter taste in my mouth. Laudanum. He must have given me a dose after we got home to calm me. I couldn’t remember.

Home.

I guessed this was home now.

“There you go, my lady. Eat up. I understand you passed a terrible night with your night terrors. It really is a shame you suffer from such odd dreams. Imagine believing you had run out into the dangerous night when you were here tucked safe in your bed.”

Odd dreams?

I opened my right palm and traced the dried, caked blood over the two deep cuts. I remembered making them with the sharp edge of a rock last night in order to remind myself it wasn’t a dream.

This isn’t real.

This isn’t real.

This isn’t real .

Please, I begged my inner self.

Please hold on this time.

Hold on to Lizzie.

Don’t forget her again.

Just then, new Parker broke into my reverie. “My lady, you must finish breaking your fast. His Grace will be waiting to start your daily instructions soon. His Grace says he has something extra special planned for you today. Ah, young love,” she crooned happily.

My daily instructions.

So, the nightmare began all over again.

I wondered, how many times had we done this?

This twisted obsessive love affair.

How many times had I forgotten only to go through the pain of remembering again?

How many times had my mind been forced to retreat for its own survival?

Once? Twice? More?

I looked down at my other palm… and saw two faint scar marks.

This isn’t real.

To be continued…

Sinister Games, Book Two