“Thank you,” Elise said to the maid who dished a portion of mashed potatoes and beef onto a flat plate for her.
She went to the drawer containing the cutlery and took a fork, then walked over to the table where the other maids were having lunch. She did her best to ignore the prying eyes and the loud, persistent whispers. She ate in silence, filling her stomach until she was finally satisfied.
“What are you doing?” Laila, one of Rebecca’s personal maids, exclaimed when she spotted Elise in the crowd of servants.
“Err... do I know you?” Elise looked up, her mouth still half-full.
“You can’t be here. Her Highness will be mad at us!”
“Oh. You must be one of her maids,” Elise said, offering a curt smile.
“Get up,” Laila commanded. She reached down and picked up Elise’s plate while the en
