W. William Warfstache the First

Ch. 13 Old lady

'Thanks, Edgar' I smile at him, watching him carefully take our empty plates. 'Well, son' Wilford the First starts after clearing his throat, 'the storm still doesn't seem to die down' William looks at me before looking out of one of the windows. He sighs, knowing his father speaks the truth, 'I guess you're right, father' he admits. 

'Well don't be so mean about the matter, William' Wilford speaks, 'I did not raise you to be this unthankful. I am always right!' I look at William, who doesn't really seem to be bothered by his father's words. Suddenly I wish my Wilford had agreed with his dad when I see Wilford the First's face. He looks unamused at his son. 

'(Y/N), dear, will you excuse us for just a moment?' Wilford the First asks me. I clear my throat and get up without any hesitation. 'Be back in time for dessert' he finally says, suddenly smiling a sweet smile at me. I smile unsure back at him before walking out of the room. 

I decide to walk upstairs, and as I walk up the stairs I hear the two of them talking. I don't hear their exact words but I can hear the frustration in their tone. I decide to walk on, into our bedroom, not wanting to listen to their conversation. 

After closing the bedroom door behind me, I walk through the room. First I stand by the window, noticing that I can look a bit farther. The storm must be getting less strong. I walk over to the bed, sitting down. I start wondering what they would be talking about right now and try to listen but I can barely hear their voices anymore. 

After ten minutes I wonder if they're done talking. I walk back down the stairs, hearing nothing but silence. I sigh relieved, knowing they're done talking by now. 'Come on, William' Wilford the First speaks suddenly, before I reach the bottom of the stairs, 'I don't see the problem here. She seems to be having a fine time so why can't you let it go?'. I stop walking to listen just for a little while. 

'The problem is that you don't realise that it isn't normal for a human to become twohundred years old!' William calls out. 'But I'm not! There are two mistakes in that sentence. I'm only onehundredandseventynine and I'm not huma-' Wilford replies calmly, followed by William cutting him off, 'You know what I mean, father!' he calls out. 

I gulp, wondering what Wilford the First was going to say. 'So you don't want your partner to know who your father is?' 

Silence. 

'No.' William finally answers, 'She'll be afraid of you if she sees who you really are. She already knows your age, how will we cover that up?' William speaks. 'We won't!' His father replies, now sounding a little frustrated as well, 'don't make up lies, just tell her the truth. I don't get why I couldn't tell her' Wilford the First explains. 'it's easier to remember since there is only one truth' he says, sounding a bit calmer again. 

'Since when did you start caring about everything' William's father asks calmly, 'you used to be just like you father but you've changed, William' He says, followed by silence. 'You know I'd kill anyone for you. Everyone if I'd have to some day, but where is the William that I once raised?' William stays quiet again. I feel a pressure on my chest, not knowing what to do.

Should I walk into the room now? Should I leave? Should I stay here and listen?

'I've grown up, father. I take care of my wife, like you always told me to' William replies calmly. Before thinking about it again, I walk into the room, putting on my best smile, 'Is it time for dessert already?' I say, acting like I didn't hear any part of their conversation. 

'Almost, my dear!' Wilford the First calls out before turning to his son, 'To end the conversation, my son, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Think about the way we lived many years back, no worries on our mind and that was all because the way we cared. We didn't!' Wilford the First speaks. I glance over at Wilford who seems to be thinking about his father's words. 

'That's right, son, think about it for a moment' and right after that, Edgar enters the room with dessert. 

After dessert we all enjoy a final cup of coffee in silence. I catch myself looking over at Wilford the First a lot, noticing he looks only about fifty maybe. 'But then again, what does one look like when he's almost twohundred years old? Probably way more wrinkles first of all. Wilford doesn't look that old at all.'

Then suddenly Wilford the First chuckles small, setting his cup down. William and I look at each other before looking back at him. 'What are you laughing about?' William asks. Wilford shakes his head, 'oh it's nothing' he says before glancing over at me. Immedaitely I feel my face heating up as if I'm caught. Did he see me staring at him? Did I stare?

Knocks on the front doors.

I jump slightly, looking into the hallway before glancing back at Wilford the First. He looks at the time on his pocketwatch, 'who could possibly visit me at this hour?' He thinks out loud before getting up and walking to the door. 

My curiousity makes me follow him. I watch Wilford open the door, revealing an old lady. I rub my arms, the snow being blown into our faces. The moonlight from behind the lady, makes her face barely visible. 'Goodevening, m'lady' Wilford starts, flashing a kind smile but I can't help but notice the smile looks a little fake. 

'Goodevening sir. Could you find it in your kind heart to help out an old lady?' she asks, sounding exhausted and shaking from the cold. I glance up at Wilford who looks unamused. 'What do you want?' he says. If he wanted to sound kind he's failing miserably at it. 

The old lady coughs, 'I've been walking for so long. Can I spend the night, kind sir?' she asks. I lay my hands on my heart, 'of course you can, miss' I tell her, offering my arm for her to take. I look up at Wilford who is raising an eyebrow down at me, 'Can she, now?' he asks unamused.

I ignore him, helping the lady getting to the two chairs in front of the fireplace. I gently set het down in one of the chairs, 'what can I get you ma'am? A cup of tea? Something warm to eat?' I ask her. She nods, 'soup would be perfect, dear' she says softly. I smile, 'of course' I turn around and walk into the kitchen, realising I haven't seen it before.

'Hi Edgar!' I say, seeing him washing the dishes. He turns his head towards me, making it turn farther than possible for a human. The cracking noises his neck makes, sends shivers down my spine. I try to keep my smile up, glancing at the blood glistening on the wound that was drawn on his throat. 

'What can I help you with (Y/N)?' he asks. 'There's an old lady, she arrived just now. She looks very cold and weak. Could you make her a nice hot soup?' I ask sweetly. Edgar's smile becomes a bit less of a smile, 'oh...ehm...of course' he answers, 'did sir Warfstache approve of her entering the manor?' he asks in doubt. 

'Ehm...I guess?' I say, not recalling him approving or either stopping me. Edgar smiles again, 'ah, alright! It'll be right up' he says, dropping the sponge and pan he was holding, drying his hands by wiping them off his clothes and walking over to the stove. 

I walk to the sink, continuing the dishes. Edgar has his back turned to me, quickly starting the soup. I can see he's really experienced with cooking. I hear footsteps coming towards the kitchen. Because of a clicking sound, I know this man has a cane with him so it must be Wilford the First approaching. 

He announces himself by a loud gasp, 'Edgar! How can you make the lady do the dishes!?' he yells. Edgar turns around to look at me, his eyes widening, 'My apologies, sir! I didn't know she was-' he starts rambling, gently pushing me aside and taking the sponge from me. 'How dare you!?' Wilford asks, walking up to us. 

I put my hands up in defense

 'wait!'