6 Father

Ashley returned to her room as soon as she finished cleaning the chamber pots. She was about to change her clothes when someone knocked on her door.

*knock *knock 

"Ashley!" It was Mary. Ashley unlocked the door and saw Mary standing anxiously.

"Mary? Why are you looking like that?"

"Ashley... The Count wants to see you."

Her eyes widened upon hearing what Mary said.

"The Count wants to see me? After all these years?" Ashley asked while shivering.

Mary nodded. "I don't know what this is all about, but I have a bad feeling about it, Ashley."

"Me too," Ashley said. 

She doesn't want to go, but how can she escape this hell she is living in? She just sighed, and Mary saw how frightened Ashley was. All she could do was hug her.

"It will be alright. I'll stay by your side." Ashley calmed down upon hearing Mary's words. But her uneasiness didn't subside.

In the Count's office, Carl is telling the Count about Ashley's life ever since she came. Soon, there was a knock on the door.

"Maybe it's her. Let her in." The Count said.

Carl excused himself and opened the door. He saw the two ladies standing there, uncomfortable and frightened. He faced Ashley and used a hand gesture to let her come in.

"You may come in now."

"Ah… Mary… I'll go in… with Mary." Ashley stuttered.

Carl looked at the maid, who Ashley was holding tightly. He just sighed and nodded and let the two enter the office. 

The Count was sitting on his chair, facing the table full of documents. Upon seeing Ashley, he stood up and then rushed to hug her. Ashley was so frightened that she closed her eyes when she saw the hands of the Count raised.

Ashley shivered and hid behind her. The Count saw how frightened she was, so he didn't continue hugging her. Mary, who saw the Count's reaction, calmed Ashley down.

"It's alright, Ashley. He was only trying to hug you." Mary assured her.

Ashley, who was crying now out of fear, calmed down. She opened her eyes and saw the Count standing in front of them. Count Harriston had a dejected look as he patted Ashley on the head.

"I'm sorry for leaving you under Reeva's care. I promise I won't let her hurt you again." Count Harriston apologized.

"S-sir, W-why… did you call… me?" Ashley asked, still hiding behind Mary.

"Ashley? I want you to be comfortable with me when we talk. Call me Father." He said.

'FATHER? Father, my ass. You abandoned her, and now you want her to call you Father.' Mary thought to herself.

The Count looked at Mary and frowned. When Mary saw it, she just smiled. Then he faced Carl.

"Who is this maid? Why is Ashley sticking to her closely?"

"She is Mary Poole. She is the daughter of the Poole Merchant, who has a huge debt to you. She was close with Ashley ever since she came here." Carl spoke in detail.

The Count nodded and looked again at the two ladies.

"I heard you lived in the Attic ever since you came here. And Reeva has been abusing you." He looks at Ashley's arms, full of scars and marks. He gritted his teeth.

"Carl, give a room to Ashley. The one next to Elizabeth's room is empty, right?"

"Sir? But that was for--"

"No buts. And assigned a new knight or two who would guard her. The new ones will start tomorrow. Make sure to instruct them properly." The Count added, then he looked at Mary, who was shocked hearing his orders.

"You. Thank you for taking care of Ashley. And I still want you to take care of her from now on. You'll be her maid."

"I-I'll still do it even if you don't order me," Mary stuttered.

The Count now faced the shocked Ashley and smiled. "I want to give you the things I couldn't give you. So please don't be afraid of me anymore, my daughter."

Ashley was taken aback by the Count's words. 'After all these years, he called me his daughter. What is he up to?'

"I-I am thankful for the room and knights. But I don't need them. I just... I don't want to get hurt anymore." Ashley refused.

"No. That's not good. You are my daughter, and providing for your needs is my responsibility."

"B-but why now? Why did you let me suffer? Why did you abandon me and pick me up now?" Ashley said while crying.

The Count looked at the crying lady in front of her. "That's why I'm trying to make it up to you. I'm sorry for abandoning you. Please forgive me."

"Forgiving you is hard, and I don't know if I can forgive you for abandoning me," Ashley answered while being hugged by Mary.

"I know you can't forgive me, but please at least accept the room and the knights I have given you. I want you to live comfortably from now on." The Count said.

"Thank you for your kindness, Count Harriston, but I think Ashley is tired for today." Mary was the one who answered him. The Count frowned but eased it, then sighed.

"Then, at least let her rest in the room I prepared for her." Suggested by the Count.

Then Ashley and Mary left the room. When only Carl and the Count are left in the room, the Count angrily faces Carl.

"Bring Reeva here."

"Yes, My Lord."

Ashley was having a hard time walking. She felt like she had lost all her strength just conversing with the Count. Mary helped her, and while they were walking, Carl joined them.

"I'm sorry for not helping you." He bowed and led them to the room prepared for Ashley.

Upon entering the room, a queen-sized bed with a canopy welcomed them. There was a big closet on the wall and a dresser on the left side of the bed, while on the right side, there was a door that led to a small balcony. There was a fireplace in the room, and above it was a beautiful painting. There is also a coffee table and chairs. The room looked luxurious and was three times the size of the Attic.

"I shall take my leave," Carl said after escorting them.

"Thank you. Mr. Carl." Ashley answered.

"No, My Lady. This humble servant was only doing his job." Carl said as he exited the room.

'My Lady?' Mary thought so, as did Ashley. The two looked at each other with shock.

"Does he want to take you as his daughter? After all these years?" Mary asked

"I don't know," Ashley mumbled as she approached the door.

"Where are you going?" Mary asked.

"To my room, in the attic."

"Why? Didn't the Count say that you would be staying here now?"

"I don't feel comfortable here. I want to go back to my room."

"Oh…Okay." Mary said, then she followed Ashley. 

Upon returning to her room, Ashley cleaned herself and changed into her nightgown. Then Mary brushed her hair as they sat on the bed.

"I'm curious about what the Count is thinking," Mary said. "Is he being nice to you now out of guilt?"

Ashley didn't answer. She kept looking at the night sky outside the window.

"Whatever. Even if the Count felt guilty, I won't forgive him that easily," Mary added.

"Mary, I wonder if I can go outside now," Ashley asked. Mary frowned at her words.

"Hey! Don't tell me you will forgive him if he allows you to go outside?"

"No. I won't. But I wanted to at least ask if I could go." Ashley said as she faced Mary.

Mary sighed and said, "Alright. We'll ask him tomorrow."

Ashley hopefully smiled as she heard those words, then she hugged Mary. "I want to visit Mother and Uncle Ben's grave."

Mary patted her back as she hugged Ashley. "We'll be able to visit them. Don't worry."

The yelling at the Count's office became louder as the night progressed.

"What were you thinking? Are you out of your mind?" yelled the Count.

"Yes! I'm out of my mind. To think you took her in. That bastard child of yours." The Countess yelled back. "Do you think I would just raise her and give her love? Huh!"

"But hurting her is outrageous. What if those scars were to be seen by the others?"

"I don't care. I'd rather kill that girl than take her as my child."

The Count snapped at those words. He slapped the face of the Countess, whose face became dumbfounded.

"Reeva! She is still my child. If ever you hurt her again, you can get lost now, just like your daughter."

"Are you throwing me away?" The Countess said in a shocked tone.

"Behave yourself now, or I will do it."

The Countess, who couldn't say anything, walked out of the room. Carl, who was standing outside, bowed upon seeing her exit the room. The Countess angrily looked at him, but the butler only stood there, unaffected. Then the Countess turned her back on Carl and walked towards her room.

He knocked on the office door before entering. "My Lord, may I come in?"

"Come in."

Upon entering, he walked toward the Count and bowed to him.

"Carl, order the knights that, when they see Elizabeth, bring her to another kingdom and don't let her come back alive."

"What about the knight she eloped with? Are we still killing him?"

"Yes. Then find a corpse with the same features as Elizabeth."

"What for, sir?"

"To declare her death. She is no longer alive to me."