The Runaway Princess

Chapter 13

“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.” Friedrich Nietzsche

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Chapter Thirteen

Elena gleefully watched David’s demonstration of his invention later that day. Elena and Marisol were both watching from the small gap in the ajar servants’ stairwell door.

“I have tested it to hold five and eighty pounds and only Imogen is to use this,” David told his family.

Elena watched as Imogen carefully sat down in the chair that David had welded to the track. She fastened the belt around her waist and released the brake that held the chair at the top of the stairs. Immediately the chair released and Imogen took off, sliding down the track attached to the wall. Imogen let out a scream and both Elena and Marisol gasped. The family immediately rushed down the stairs to tend to her but Imogen began laughing as the chair came to a stop.

“That was brilliant!” she exclaimed. “David, carry me upstairs, please. I want to do that again!”

Elena saw a mixture of pride and relief on his face. He did exactly as his sister wished. He carried Imogen back upstairs while Emmett pulled the chair up the track and Imogen went down again, laughing the whole way.

Elena could see the look of elation on David’s family members’ faces. His mother, in particular, had tears in her eyes. She looked so proud of her son.

David had caught Elena in the hallway on the third floor earlier in the day and had asked her to watch the unveiling of Imogen’s chair. Elena could not watch with the family, but he had seen her there, watching from the doorway, and he had smiled.

“He is so clever,” whispered Marisol. “How did he do that?”

“He loves his sister,” replied Elena. “He wanted to make her life that little bit better. He did what he had to do.”

Over the next few days, David managed to capture Elena while she went about her daily chores. They would kiss in dark corners while his body shielded her and he would reaffirm his love for her. To then spend more time with her, David rose early and helped her with her chores. They joked and laughed together while changing bed linens as Marisol idly chaperoned with a feather duster in her hand.

Elena’s guilt eased. She no longer felt as though she was being deliberately false. She truly felt as though she was Elena Marquez, a simple housemaid. Her previous identity from a previous life was long gone.

Little did she know that her previous life was about to find her.

Three days after David’s unveiling, Elena sat cheerfully eating breakfast, chatting to Marisol about something menial. She had come to enjoy her morning cup of tea and she enjoyed the warmth. The weather was still very cool after the storm the other day.

Mr Clarke was inspecting The Times newspaper like he usually did. There were always two copies of The Times newspaper delivered to Ascot House. One was pressed and delivered to the Duke to read in his study and the other was for Mr Clarke to read over breakfast.

“Mrs Johnson, there is a very interesting article on the front page of The Times this morning,” murmured Mr Clarke.

“Oh, yes?” replied Mrs Johnson over her porridge. “Is there something amiss in parliament?”

“In fact, I would like a private audience with you in my study, Mrs Johnson.” Mr Clarke cleared his throat and stood up. “Elena and Marisol, will you please join Mrs Johnson and I in my study?” he asked, capturing Elena’s attention.