The Price of a Secret

7 | MAZE OF DESPAIR

Elizabeth stares fixedly at her own eyes reflected in the bathroom mirror as she brushes her hair. What would become of her life now? While escape was once the only way out of a life of chains, it has now become her forbidden option. Her life is no longer her own, but rather that little being growing in her belly.

As she wanders sadly through thoughts of the life she could have had, Mason approaches from behind and places his hands on her shoulders. There is no reaction. She is still numb from the new reality life has brought her.

"Elizabeth, forgive me for yesterday. I wasn't myself".

She averts her gaze from her own eyes and looks at him without any reaction. Can she forgive him? For attempting to kill her, perhaps yes. But for not having the courage, maybe not.

"I brought you a gift, my dear".

He takes a gold necklace with a diamond pendant and places it in front of Elizabeth's neck.

"Beautiful, just like you".

Ah, how she wished to hear those words before. Now, however, they hold no meaning anymore.

She places her right hand on the pendant, trying to identify it. A moon. What irony. Once again, that majestic and merciless lady of the night will be the witness to her suffering.

"Thank you, Mason", she manages to whisper.

"I'll be heading out now, but I'll be back for dinner".

Lucky me, she thought ironically.

——

The month dragged on in an endless expanse of depressed thoughts conflicting with glimmers of hope. Now, she needed to find the strength to fight for something greater.

Finishing getting ready for lunch, Elizabeth takes a good look in the mirror and realizes her belly hasn't started showing yet. By her calculations, she must be almost two months pregnant. She needed to see a doctor.

Still, she hasn't found the strength or courage to tell Mason. She doesn't know how he'll react. Since the incident with the gun, he has been a different person. No more shouting, aggression, or humiliation. Elizabeth had thought it could be a fresh start.

Entering the kitchen, she catches a whiff of orange sauce duck being prepared, Mason's favorite. But her lungs barely absorb the scent when she realizes she's about to vomit. She wouldn't make it to the ensuite bathroom in time, so she rushes to the guest bathroom instead. Greta follows her closely.

"Mrs. Elizabeth, are you okay?"

She can't respond, only vomit.

Standing up and wiping her mouth at the sink, Elizabeth turns to Greta, trying to hide.

"Yes, I'm just feeling nauseous".

"I've noticed you've been feeling very sick, ma'am. Are you pregnant?"

There was no more hiding, and she was tired of living in fear of the truth.

With tears in her eyes, she confesses her pain, "Yes, Greta. But please, don't tell Mason. I'm waiting for the right moment".

The maid looks at her with sympathetic eyes. Does she know the truth? Does she know that Elizabeth is a prisoner in her own life?

"Of course, don't worry. Come, let's go to your room. I'll make you some tea. By dinnertime, the smell will have left the house".

"Thank you".

Perhaps tonight would be the right moment. She had rehearsed this conversation countless times in front of the mirror, but in none of them, she could predict Mason's reaction. So, she was prepared for anything.