Behind the wall at the edge of the room, Clara, the young maid, stood hidden, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement, fear, and curiosity. Her face flushed pink, her hands clutching her apron as she eavesdropped, catching every word, her breath shallow as she tried to stay unnoticed.
"Haha, oh come on, Ezra," Elizabeth said, her voice light and teasing as she twirled her fork in her pasta, her lips curving into a bright smile. "You're nothing but buttering me up now."
I laughed, shaking my head as I took another bite, savoring the rich sauce. "No, no, I mean it for real," I said.
Elizabeth's smile softened, her gaze lingering on me as she set her fork down.
