William looked at the girl with a frown. She was wearing a dress that had lost its color due to being washed many times. If that was not enough it was very dirty, full of dirt and mud and crumpled as if it was taken out by digging the ground. Her hair was in a mess and her face had tear marks and dirt all over. Her hands were clutching her dress tightly as she stood there uncertain. Yet those blue eyes reminded him of his late wife.
When he looked at her eyes, his face softened a bit and he smiled warmly at the girl.
Evangeline kept standing there as she was not offered a seat yet, she was uncertain for how long the man would keep staring at her. Though he was evaluating her, she did not feel any apprehension or ill intention from the man. Yet she wanted to know about her father who was not even mentioned once.
Suddenly she was reminded of the evil tricks people play to trap young girls and then sell them in the slave establishment. That thought made her more conscious. There was no proof that his father had actually suffered an incident and they were here to help her.
"I am here to see my father." she said strictly as she looked back into the eyes of the man with equal intensity.
William blinked as he was not expecting the girl to speak so sharply. She was looking very frail yet the way she was unaffected with his aura and replying back was tremendous for a person of her age.
"Your father is no more. He died while saving me in an accident. I apologise, but we could not save him." said the man with a rather cold voice. His hands were clenched to form a fist and his eyes were filled with complicated expressions.
"I want to see him." she replied, matching his coldness. Though his eyes were filled with tears again, her voice was resolute.
"I apologize again, but we have already buried him, since his body was not in the condition to be kept!" added the man, leaving her exasperated.
"What do you mean? How could this be? My father ate breakfast with me a day ago!" she shouted a bit loud this time earning a gasp from all the servants who were standing there covering all corners but she did not care.
"I understand the young lady. But this is all we had!" said the man as he pointed at his butler who had gone to bring her here.
He nodded and passed the bag which she had prepared for her father. The chain watch that was attached to her father's coat. This was the only thing of gold they still had in their home and a few silver coins that his father had taken with him.
She grabbed the things and hugged them with all her might. She started crying again as she kept holding them.
She had thought that the man would leave as he was looking like someone who had thousands of matters to deal with.
"I want to see my fathers grave." she replied, and the man nodded his head.
"Come with me, my child." the man forwarded her hand.
Evangeline looked at the forwarded hand and held it after some hesitation. She still was not sure about the intentions of the man but she would think about it after meeting her father for the last time.
She had thought they would go to a graveyard nearby or some public graveyard in the town. But to her surprise the man took her to the backyard. Crossing a distance, they reached to a personal graveyard where only the family member of a particular family could be buried
She could see the sign of a similar silver sword which they had on the servant's uniform or on their entrance.
She looked at him with questioning eyes, but he still gave her a mild smile.
"Your father has saved me. I owe him this much respect." she nodded and a maid passed her flowers. Taking the flowers in her hands she walked towards the grave and sat in front of it.
She sat there and continued to look at it without saying a thing. She did not know what to say to make herself feel better. Her last kin was gone and she was not even able to see him for one last time!
How much time had passed, when she finally stood up and walked away. There was only one servant standing there who was still looking at her with disdain but she did not care. It was not like she had anything to do with them.
"His highness has asked me to talk to him when you are done with mourning." I nodded and followed her.
She took Evangeline through a large hall and many narrow corridors only to stand in front of a study room.
Evangeline knocked and entered the room after getting permission.
"Ah, you are done, my child." asked the man still with a warm smile.
"Come, sit with me. You must be hungry, what would you like to eat, dear?" The man was behaving too warmly towards her, but she still had her guards up.
"I am fine, kind sir. I just want to know, can you ask your coach to escort me to my house? And if possible, can I come here on a certain occasion to see my father?" her voice was soft and polite, yet the man felt enraged.
He shook his head and she frowned, this was not what she was expecting!
"Alright, I understand. Then I will not disturb you further. I will look for a public carriage. It was nice meeting you, kind sir." She stood up, ready to leave when the man called her.
"There is some confusion Evangeline. You are not going anywhere. From today onwards, this is your new home!"