Charles went up straight into his room and locked the door behind him. He was broken by what Chloe had said about him. He couldn't believe he scared his daughter to the extent of making her think of him as a monster. He so hated himself at this point. He sat down on the concrete floor, resting his back on the door, his head bowed and buried between his knees.
"What have I done? She thinks of me as a monster. How can I ever gain her love back?" He said to himself. He was so lost in thoughts. He lifted his head, his eyes in contact with the portrait of his wife and true love. She was so pretty in the portrait. A bittersweet smile appeared on his face as he stared at the portrait.
"What do I do Rosie? She hates me. It's your fault. You caused this! If you were still here. All these won't be happening." He stated as a silent tear fell from his left eye. The room was entirely silent.
"You shouldn't have left us. You should have stayed. But no, you had to leave you! You just had to! How am I gonna fix this? Your little girl is broken. She hates me. She calls me a monster. She's scared of me. What do I do? How do I fix this Rosie? I can't fix this without you and you're not here." He said in pains as he held the portrait close to his chest.
"I miss you Rosie. I find it hard to let go. I can't do it. You let me hold on to you but you refused to stay with me. You left me broken. Chloe's damaged because you aren't here and what do I say about myself? We've been miserable these past four years without you. Death is a bastard for taking you away from us. I miss you." He said as he broke down the more as he relished the moments he had with Rosie before death took her away. He was in so much regret. The flashbacks and voice of Chloe discussing with Madam Clara flashed in his mind. He had no idea the relationship between him and his eight years old daughter had gotten that strained.
"I shouldn't blame you for this mess. I caused it all. It's my fault she hates me. I've been a very bad father. A terrible one. I just wish I can fix it. You must be so disappointed in me right now. I'm so sorry Rosie. I will fix this. I will try my best. I have to fix this. You wouldn't be happy to know about this if you were here. Please forgive my absurd behaviour. I regret my actions. All I hope for now is that she gives me a chance to fix things before it's too late." He said heaving a deep sigh. He slowly walked towards the bed as he laid on it staring at the window from which the rays of the sun penetrated into the room. Silent tears running down his face.
"I'm sorry about how Lord Charles spoke to you earlier Elora. Chloe told me everything." Madam Clara apologised on his behalf.
"Oh that.." She laughed making Clara surprised by her reaction. She stopped immediately she saw her facial expression.
"I mean it's nothing. I've let it go already. I mean he gets angry easily. I totally understand that." She said as she take a sip from the cup of orange juice Madam Clara had offered her.
"He's been like that since he lost his wife. I'm quite surprised you don't seem annoyed."
"It's nothing. I can deal with him. I'm just worried about Chloe." Madam Clara halted.
"True. It gets to her a lot." Clara sighed.
"Well, I sure hope it gets better sooner. She's had to deal with a lot." She continued. The two ladies talked at length about different other things.
The next day, Chloe got dressed for her ballet class lessons. She and Elora boarded the carriage and the coachman got the carriage moving.
"I'm sorry about how father spoke to you Miss Elora. He gets angry sometimes." Chloe apologised on the way.
"Oh my dear. It's nothing. I'm not mad." She said assuring the 8 years old kid before her.
"We all get angry. Even I too but it's not a bad thing because we are all humans and one thing or the other can make us angry. So, it's okay."
"But father's anger scares me a lot." She replied with a sad look on her face. Elora held her hand as she looked at the harmless youngster before her.
"Everything will be alright Chloe. It will be fine. Okay?" The girl nodded in affirmation.
"Good! Give me a hug now darling." She requested and she obeyed immediately giving her a big long hug.
"Can I see a smile on that pretty face?" She requested and Chloe put on a smile. Elora smiled in return out satisfaction.
"Wonderful! Now, you go have a wonderful time in class and maybe later we'll think of something fun to do. Something to ease the stress. Is that alright?"
"Yes Miss Elora." She answered with a smile. Soon the carriage arrived at Chloe's ballet school.
"We're here mi ladies." Derrick said informing them of their arrival as he opens the door for Chloe to step out.
"Thank you Derrick." Elora appreciated him with a lovely smile. He gave a courtesy. Chloe took a deep breath.
"Okay. See you later Miss Elora." She said to her governess.
"Break a leg sweetheart." She cheered and Chloe giggled.
"I will!" She replied as she stepped out. She waved at Elora and Derrick before joining her peers.
"I must say you really got a grip on Lord Higgins' daughter." Derrick remarked and Elora laughed.
"Seriously?"
"Well... yeah. I've never seen lady Chloe this jovial in the past four years even on her birthdays. Which is why I must say, you're surely doing a really pretty good job with taming her. Believe me, you are. Governesses before you couldn't even do half of what you're doing when they handled her." He confessed. He was quite impressed in the changes Elora had put in place with Chloe. He couldn't believe she could have a quick effect on Chloe because others who had tried failed and lost their jobs due to inefficiency.
"Mmm. I see. Thank you Derrick." She said to him.
"You're welcome Elora." He answered.
"Shall we.....?" She asked reminding him they were to leave.
"Oh right! Pardon me Miss Elora." She gave a courtesy. He boarded the carriage and soon they were on the way home.