All Chapters of The lords' maid: Chapter 61 - Chapter 68

Lucian’s POV ​The air inside the tavern was thick with the scent of roasted hops, pipe smoke, and untamed laughter. Nestled in a shadowy corner far from the aristocratic glare of Valenridge high society, I sat alone at a battered wooden table, watching my younger brother. ​Leo sat at the upright piano on the low wooden stage, his fingers flying across the keys with an effortless, brilliant grace. He didn't play for coin—he never did. He played simply because music was the only place he felt completely free. The crowd around him was alive, ordinary townspeople swaying, raising their pewter mugs, and singing along to a lively melody he had composed himself. ​Watching him, I felt a quiet ache in my chest. For weeks, the distance between us had felt wider than an ocean. ​The song finally wound down to a thunderous round of cheers and thumping mugs. Leo took a quick bow, ran a hand through his messy hair, and stepped off the stage. As he turned toward the bar, his eyes caught mine

Lucian’s POV ​I made my way through the quiet corridors of the west wing, looking for Eva. We needed to finalize our plans for confronting Laura and mapping out our departure to track down her forgery contact out of town. ​When I asked a passing footman if he had seen her, he mentioned spotting Lady Eva heading toward the gallery room a short while ago. ​I pushed open the heavy oak door to the gallery, expecting to find her alone among the portraits. Instead, the sight before me made me halt in the doorway. ​Eva stood near the central easel, her breath coming in quick, shallow hitches. Her cheeks were flushed a deep, undeniable crimson, her chest heaving as if she had just run a distance. A few feet away stood Leo, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to adjust his coat, his own composure visibly shattered. ​"Eva?" I called out softly, stepping into the room. ​She flinched, her eyes snapping to mine in sheer panic. She looked like a startled bird caught in a trap. ​"Is ever

Eva’s POV​We left Valenridge early in the morning under the guise of a quiet couple's getaway. Before the household, we framed the trip as a rare, private retreat for Lucian and me to spend uninterrupted time together—a story Duke Arthur accepted with a dismissive grumpt, and one that allowed us to slip away without raising suspicion.​The carriage ride took hours, the smooth cobblestones of the capital eventually giving way to dusty, rutted dirt roads. By late afternoon, we pulled into the bustling, somewhat gritty settlement of Oakhaven—the neighbouring township where Laura’s corrupt contact operated.​We secured rooms at a modest local inn. Before heading out, I quickly freshened up and shed my fine duchess gowns, dressing in a simple, unadorned wool dress and draping a dark linen scarf over my head and hair. Lucian discarded his tailored coat for a plain jacket and pulled a low-brimmed cap over his eyes. Disguised as ordinary middle-class travellers, we blended into the town's bu

Lady Eleanor’s POV​I rested a soft hand over the visible curve of my stomach, feeling the slight, reassuring flutter beneath my palm. The pregnancy was advancing rapidly, the weight of the new life growing heavier with each passing week, bringing with it a faint, lingering dizziness whenever I stood for too long.​Across the polished mahogany lunch table sat Arthur, his expression softer than I had seen it in decades. He cut his meat with uncharacteristically careful movements, his eyes drifting repeatedly toward my stomach.​"I can hardly wait for this child to be born," Arthur remarked quietly, setting his utensils down and leaning back in his chair. "The estate feels far too quiet these days."​I watched him over the rim of my teacup, a soft, skeptical hum escaping my lips. "I don't think I have ever seen you this excited when I was pregnant with Lucian or Leo."​Arthur sighed softly, his hands resting flat on the table as he met my gaze without his usual sternness. "Because I am