Home / YA/TEEN / The lords' maid / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of The lords' maid: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

68 Chapters

CHAPTER 1: A DANCE WITH THE GHOSTS

Eva’s POV The glass was pitted with dark age spots that bit into the silvering like tiny black teeth. It was the only mirror I possessed, wedged into the cracked plaster wall of the rented garret above the cooperage. I leaned forward, my breath fogging the lower corner of the frame. The face staring back at me looked almost unfamiliar. I traced the sharp curve of my cheekbones, the full lower lip, and the heavy-lidded dark eyes that carried far too much shadow for a woman of twenty-one. My natural dark waves had been washed with scented oil—the last drop of lavender I had hoarded since winter—and pinned into an intricate crown of curls that mimicked the high court ladies of the capital. Then I looked down at the dress. Yellow. Bright, unapologetic gold, spun from coarse silk I had bought thread by thread with the copper coins I had earned scrubbing blood from butcher's blocks and hauling sacks on the grain farms outside Valenridge. My fingers, calloused at the tips, smoothed dow

Last Updated : 2026-08-07

CHAPTER 2: THE HOUSE OF VIPERS

Eva’s POV The coarse linen of the servant's apron felt heavy against my collarbones as I pulled the white ties tight around my waist. Standing before the small silvered glass in my quarters, I smoothed down my dark grey gown. My hands were steady, but the fire behind my ribs was unyielding. Today, I was merely preparing to take up the broom and dustcloth, waiting for the first crack in the De Witt fortress. A sharp knock sounded against my wooden door. "Eva!" Mrs. Gable the head maid called from the stone corridor. "Finished adjusting your cap, girl. Her Ladyship requires two maids in the main courtyard." I opened the door immediately, bowing my head. "Is there a grand task for the morning, Mrs. Gable?" "Her Ladyship wishes to deliver seasonal gifts to a neighbouring estate," Mrs. Gable explained, her keys jingling as she turned. "Laura offered to go, but Her Ladyship specifically requested you accompany her alongside Martha. Wash your hands and step lively." Down in

Last Updated : 2026-08-07

CHAPTER 3: OF BOOKS AND BOUNDARIES

Eva’s POV The high, arched windows of the grand library poured pale morning sunlight over thousands of leather-bound spines, casting long, gilded shadows across the polished oak floorboards. It was, without question, the grandest room in Valenridge Manor. I stood near the far eastern alcove, holding a feather duster in one hand and a wooden mop in the other. For the first time since stepping into this estate, my chest did not feel completely constricted by anxiety. I loved books. Before my world was set ablaze, my father’s study had been my sanctuary—a place filled with the rich scent of aged parchment, ink, and endless knowledge. Scanning the towering shelves, my eyes danced over volume after volume: detailed treatises on kingdom politics, historical military strategy, courtly fashion, ancient lore, and romantic poetry. I am meant to be dusting, I reminded myself sternly. Yet my hand betrayed me. Setting the mop and broom against the side of a tall mahogany ladder, I reached o

Last Updated : 2026-08-07

CHAPTER 4: WATER AND WILDFIRES

Lucian’s POV The wooden wheels of the family carriage rattled over the cobblestones of the capital road, each jolt vibrating through the soles of my polished boots. Across from me sat my father, Duke Arthur De Witt. He was a man made entirely of iron, ledger books, and strict expectation. His silvered head remained bowed over a stack of trade manifests, his quill scratching rhythmically against the heavy parchment despite the sway of the coach. "The grain tariffs in the eastern provinces are rising by three percent," Father said without looking up, his voice dry and clipped. "When we enter the council chamber with Lord Sterling’s envoys tomorrow, Lucian, you will lead the negotiation." "Sterling’s men will not yield three percent on grain without a concession on timber," I replied, staring out the glass window at the passing forest. "They are greedy, Father, but they are not foolish." "Then you will make them see reason," Father stated, dipping his quill in ink. "A future Du

Last Updated : 2026-08-10

CHAPTER 5: SILK AND SURVIVAL

Eva’s POV The servants' hall at eight in the evening smelled of roasted turnips, boiled mutton, and damp wool drying near the hearth. Around the long wooden trestle table, the estate’s maids, footmen, and stable boys sat elbow-to-elbow. Wood spoons scraped loudly against bowls as exhausted workers devoured their supper in relative silence, far too tired from twelve hours of labor to waste energy on talk. I sat near the edge of the bench, my back straight, picking quietly at a piece of dry rye bread. "Here," a quiet, dry voice muttered beside me. A sun-browned hand slid half a salted plum onto my plate. I turned to see a maid with sharp hazel eyes, calloused hands, and dark hair pulled back into a severe knot. It was Nell—a scullery maid who mostly kept to herself, spent her days scrubbing iron pots, and had zero interest in court gossip. "You look like you're chewing on gravel," Nell said softly, taking a huge bite of a turnip. "Eat the plum. Keeps your throat from drying

Last Updated : 2026-08-13

CHAPTER 6: SLIPPERY SLOPES

Lord Leo’s POV If I had to sit through one more minute of my father discussing trade tariffs and eastern grain quotas, I was going to throw myself out the grand library window. Lucian, of course, sat at the mahogany table looking like a statue carved from stone—attentive, serious, and utterly immune to boredom. But I was built for sunshine, cello strings, late-night tavern music, and soft laughter. Formal state meetings were a slow form of torture. Taking advantage of the Duke leaning over a map of the capital, I silently slid back from the table, ducked behind the heavy velvet drapes, and slipped out the side door into the quiet corridor. Free at last. I stretched my arms over my head with a long, satisfying breath, pulling my linen shirt collar open. I had roughly twenty minutes before Lucian realized I was gone and sent a guard to fetch me. As I turned the corner into the high marble gallery, a strange sight caught my eye. Near the massive grandfather clock sat a brass bucke

Last Updated : 2026-08-13

CHAPTER 7: THE MAP OF THIEVES

Eva’s POV The door to Lord Lucian’s private study opened with a quiet click. Holding a wooden tray stacked with polish, soft rags, and a feather duster, I stepped inside. The room was bright and quiet, smelling of old leather, wood polish, and clean air. It was dominated by a massive mahogany desk, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and framed maps of the northern provinces. Keep it simple, I told myself, setting my tray on a side table. Just clean and keep your eyes open. I started by dusting the high bookshelves near the window, keeping one ear turned toward the hall. After the chaotic morning with Lord Leo in the gallery, the West Wing was completely still. Moving toward the center of the room, my duster swept along the edge of the mahogany desk. That was when my eyes caught the wax seal on a stack of parchment left beside an inkwell. A red seal showing a serpent coiled around a dagger. The Sterling family crest. I froze. I looked back over my shoulder at the closed door. Sil

Last Updated : 2026-08-14

CHAPTER 8: DUST AND DUTY

Lucian’s POV The afternoon sun hit the stone terrace in bright, blistering sheets as Leo and I tossed our riding gloves onto the iron table. My shirt was damp with sweat, my shoulders aching from breaking in a stubborn bay stallion for two hours. Beside me, Leo collapsed into a wicker chair with his usual dramatic flair, pouring himself a tall glass of iced lemon water and downing half of it in a single gulp. “You pulled the reins too late on the turn,” I said, pulling my chair out and sitting down. “If that horse was any sharper, you’d have landed face-first in the dirt.” Leo grinned, tossing his wet hair out of his eyes. “Ah, but I didn't land in the dirt, big brother. That’s called style.” I couldn't help the quiet exhale that escaped me. Leo hid it behind jokes and easy charm, but I caught the subtle way his eyes darted toward the far end of the terrace, waiting for our father to look up from his papers. He craved the Duke’s approval. He could pretend all day that he

Last Updated : 2026-08-14

CHAPTER 9: THE DUPLICATE AND THE DUST

Eva’s POV The stolen boundary treaty felt heavy against my ribs, tucked deep inside the inner lining of my apron. Back in the servants' quarters, every floorboard creak sounded like Lucian’s boots coming to confront me. His cold reprimand back in the study kept echoing in my head: Forget your place in this house again, and I will personally see to it that you are dismissed. He was far too sharp. It wouldn't take him long to realize one of the older trade maps on his desk had gone missing. If I kept the original, he’d lock down the manor before the week was out. I needed an exact copy. And I needed to swap it back onto his desk before he noticed. “You're pacing like a caged fox,” Nell murmured, setting down a heavy wicker basket of damp wool near the washbasins. She wiped her sweat-slicked forehead with the back of her wrist, her sharp hazel eyes cutting right to me. I stopped, smoothing down my skirt to hide the nervous tremor in my hands. “Nell,” I said softly, stepping

Last Updated : 2026-08-14

CHAPTER 10: THE SAVING GRACE

Eva’s POV The air in the quiet corner of the main kitchen was thick with the scent of simmering broth, crushed herbs, and roasting meats. I stood near the wooden prep table, my eyes lowered as I carefully chopped fresh rosemary for Lady Eleanor’s evening soup. Beside me, Mrs. Gable moved with a cold, terrifying efficiency, stirring an iron pot over the hearth, her keys clinking softly with every step. The silence between us was far worse than an outburst. “I gave you my trust, Eva,” Mrs. Gable said softly, not even looking back at me as she stirred. “I saw a quiet, intelligent girl who needed honest work. And yet, you sneak off to the village market like a thief in the night.” “I am truly sorry, Mrs. Gable,” I murmured, my knife slicing through the herbs with measured precision. “I did not mean to breach your trust.” “Then tell me the truth.” Mrs. Gable commanded, turning around to face me, her sharp gray eyes locking onto mine. “What were you doing in the market? And do not tel

Last Updated : 2026-08-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP