It was not until she finished the food on her plate did she raise her head. Looking at him, she realized that he was still eating his food slowly and she wondered if she had acted greedy.
She tore her gaze away from him and looked outside the balcony to see the thick trees that surrounded the manor.
A while later, she heard his deep voice ask, "Are you feeling cold?" She shook her head at the question as she looked at him and watched him wipe his lips with a napkin.
He poured the first glass of wine and placed it at her side. "I don't want," she said as she watched him pour himself another glass. "Tell me your grace, why did you decide to set me up like that?" she suddenly asked.
He cleared his throat and said, "What makes you think I did it?"
"Because you had made it clear that I was not leaving Hollowvale and it happened today, the day we were leaving."
"So then, did he leave?" he asked and she looked away from him. A while later, he said," Hazel, I did not do it."
"I don't believe you," she said immediately looking at him.
"I'm disappointed that you think of me that way but that is the only truth. Even though I wanted you to stay so badly, I would never put you in a position that would embarrass you or ruins your reputation. Yes I knew that you were planning on leaving today and I had placed measures to make you stay in Hollowvale. I had placed my men at the boarder and you were never going to cross. That is the only way I had planned on stopping you from leaving."
She looked away from him pondering over his words. "Who did it then? Or do you think that I really stole it?" she asked. "Unlike you, I trust you and I know that you wouldn't do something like that," he said and raised his glass before taking a sip from it.
A long while later, Hazel looked at the wine and it looked so tempting. In the end, she decided to take a sip and she relished the rich taste on her tongue before swallowing it. It was the very first time she was tasting wine and she had to admit that it was incredible. "You like it?" he asked and she slightly nodded her head.
Placing the glass back on the table, she looked at him and asked," How long am I sleeping in that room?" "What do you think?" he asked.
"I don't know. It's why am asking."
"Alright," he said before straightening up. "You are no longer a servant. You are now the lady of the house," he mentioned and she looked at him expressionlessly. "You don't believe me do you? Wait till tomorrow," he added and she looked at him confused. "What will happen tomorrow?" she asked. "You will see," he replied.
After finishing the drink, he asked if she wanted more and she refused, afraid that she might get drunk. When she reached her new room, she closed the door behind her and she looked around, unable to believe that she had the big room all for herself. Changing into her night gown, she walked towards the bed.
She then sat on it before laying on the soft mattress and she closed her eyes. She couldn't help but stretch her limbs on the comfortable bed.
She later slipped inside the warm blanket and she clutched it tightly.
The next time Hazel woke up, there was a knock on the door and she sat up yawning. She realized that it was already morning and she went to check who was at the door.
"Good morning." "Good morning," she replied. "I came to prepare your bath," she informed and Hazel stepped aside.
After preparing the bath, she came out of the bathroom and Hazel wanted to ask her to call Charlotte but she hesitated.
After having a bath, she changed and sat on the bed. Later on, another maid brought in breakfast which included bacon and eggs, and milk tea. "Thank you," she said and then asked her to call Charlotte.
She had just started eating her breakfast when she heard a knock on the door and she went to open to see Charlotte.
"Hazel!" she called surprised at seeing her. "What are you doing here?!"
"Come in," she said and Charlotte stepped inside before turning to look at her.
"You... what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I thought that rumors had already spread that I am here," she said. "When did you come?" "His grace brought me here yesterday evening. He came for me." "So, was it proven that you're innocent?" She shook her head and said," Not yet." "How did you end up here then?" she asked again.
"I also don't know. His grace ordered Mr Cooper to shift me here. He told me that I wouldn't be comfortable sleeping in the quarters again." "What?! That is so surprising," she said before whispering," Have you considered the thought that he was the one that planned the whole thing?" "I did and I confronted him but he said that he wasn't the one. And I somehow believed him," she said and she nodded.
"So then, what is next? How long are you going to stay here?" "I don't know what he's planning next honestly," she replied and the next moment, there was a knock on the door before it was slightly opened.
When Cooper saw Charlotte in the room, he frowned and she was quick at saying," I was just leaving Mr Cooper." He nodded and she turned to look at Hazel then whispered," I will come back." She nodded at her and Cooper stepped aside so that she could get out.
He then turned to Hazel and asked," Have you gotten your breakfast Ms Winston?"
"Yes. Thank you." "That is great," he said and his eyes fell on the food that was on the table. "I will be back later," he said and left so that she could eat her food.
After having her breakfast, the plates were taken and she wondered what she was going to do because she couldn't just sit around for the whole day.