Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 746

Chapter 746 A Personal Maid

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In a way, this made her much safer. It would also make it far easier for Cassian to send his own men to lo for her covertly.

Across the table, Thomas suddenly paused mid-bite. He looked up, casting a sharp glance her

way.

Elowen caught the look, but she didn’t return it, continuing to eat her dinner with absolute composure.

“Speaking of the Duchess,” Betty said, her voice filled with admiration, “she really is an extraordinary woman. They call her the Lady of Grace and Virtue. She established the Silverloom Exchange in Vanelle and even helped secure the peace treaty with Nordia. A woman like that can stand toe-to-toe with any man.”

Enraptured by the story, Emma set her spoon down and cupped her face in her hands, her eyes shining. “The Duchess must be so beautiful.”

Robert snorted. “No matter how beautiful she is, she still has to serve Cassian. Besides, the Duchess is notoriously jealous. She’s been married to Duskmoor Manor for years and hasn’t let Cassian take a single concubine, not even a chambermaid. Poor Cassian, married to a tyrant like that.”

Elowen amused herself with the thought.

Even if I tried to get him a concubine, he wouldn’t dare accept her. He’d ship her away in the middle of the night.

That jealous man couldn’t even handle her looking at another man for too long, let alone taking a concubine.

Emma tilted her head, asking innocently, “Daddy, what’s a concubine?”

“Any man of status in this world takes concubines,” Robert explained with utmost seriousness.

Suddenly, Thomas clattered his spoon down onto the table.

Robert’s face fell, and he shut his mouth immediately. He was, in truth, a bit intimidated by his son-in-law.

Thomas, however, wasn’t paying attention to him right now. He was narrowing his eyes at Elowen, his sharp gaze sizing her up from head to toe.

“Come to think of it,” Thomas said, his voice carrying a slight chill, “we haven’t asked for your name or background these past few days, Madam. Where exactly are you from? It’s quite a

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Chapter 746 A Personal Maid

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coincidence that you happened to wash up at the edge of our village right around the time the Duke and Duchess were ambushed in the river valley.”

Elowen didn’t shrink away, meeting his gaze directly. “I only kept my background to myself because no one asked.”

After a brief pause, she continued, “I used to be the personal maid to General Dray’s granddaughter at Emerald Pass in Avenlor. My name is Molly Dray, and I take the family name of my master’s.”

The revelation took everyone by surprise.

Emerald Pass was the strategic gateway between Avenlor and Nordia, located about a hundred li from where they sat. Samuel Dray had guarded the pass for twenty years, and his name carried immense weight across both nations. Hugh had originally left Vanelle with her and Cassian to visit relatives back at the pass; General Dray was, in fact, Hugh’s granduncle. The general’s granddaughter, Clara, was a lady of a noble house, and her personal maid would naturally be a cut above the rest.

Elowen had chosen this identity with several considerations in mind.

First, it offered a perfectly logical explanation for her presence here, effectively dismissing all of Thomas’s suspicions. Second, she claimed to be a maid rather than the general’s granddaughter because she worried Robert might sell her out if he smelled a fortune. A maid’s status was neither too high nor too low-insignificant enough to avoid attracting greed, yet grand enough to explain her demeanor.

“I served the young lady at the Dray estate until I reached the age to be released from service and marry,” Elowen said, her expression entirely serene. “But my carriage went into the river along the way. I was washed down here and injured my leg, which is how I ended up stranded.”

Her story was seamless and perfectly reasoned. Thomas frowned, unable to find a single flaw in it for the moment.

Betty believed every word, nodding repeatedly. “So that’s why. No wonder you carry yourself so well. Having served a lady in a general’s household, you’re bound to be different from the likes of us.”

Robert grew even more attentive. “Don’t you worry, Molly. Just focus on recovering here. Once your leg heals, I’ll make sure you get back home safely.”

Only Thomas kept his cold gaze fixed on Elowen. Even if he couldn’t poke a hole in her story, his instincts told him this woman was far more than just a maid.

After dinner, Robert headed out again for a stroll.

Emma sidled up to Elowen, full of curiosity. “Molly, were you really in a general’s household?

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Chapter 746 A Personal Maid

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