Stay by my side, Mi Confidant

The Mongering News of Lady Agatha Ashton

"I do not know when I will ever become happy again. I lost my family, and I am only left with an abundant inheritance that I need to manage by myself. However, one person whom I considered a family is also planning to leave me. Until when will I be lonely and longing for what they call happiness? Will there be someday that someone will warm this hollow heart of mine?

Lady Agatha in her maxi dusty blue dobby mesh sleeve belted dress, with her long black curly hair half ponytailed, and wearing an expensive Venetian phantom half mask as she stands and watches outside the window, crossed arm, in thoughts.

Two letters were on her table with a red sealed wax of each. One from her uncle, Lord Douglas Ashton, and the other from Butler Donald Smith. Suddenly, Butler Donald came in, half-faced, as he served the morning breakfast.

"Are you also going to leave me Donald?" as she turns around in a sad manner.

"My lady, I wish to stay longer but my son has sincerely requested my presence to spend my old days with him and with his new family. I will still be at your service for 2 years, and during my tenure, I will find someone who can do the job and whom you can trust."

"I understand, it's just that once you leave, Uncle Douglas will try every means to havoc my personal life, and he's been doing this quite often these days"

She walks towards the table, picks up the letter from his uncle, and showed it to Butler Donald, with her displeased face.

"This is his means of intruding into my life since I am the only one left of my father's blood. He's selling me off to one of his puppets who is an aristocrat because I know Uncle Douglas wants all the Ashton assets that father has left me." As she feels unhappy about it.

"My lady –" Butler Donald feels sorry for her.

"However, I will not let them control and manipulate me. I will not let my father's hard work go to a despicable man like him. As such an aristocratic man will never sincerely love a woman with an ugly scar on the face." She exclaimed as she throws the letter in the trash basket.

"My lady, please don't say such words. You are a beautiful woman at heart. You are very kind to many of us. You have taken your mother's optimism, kindness, and astuteness. And you are a smart and clever lady like your father. No man should dare to humiliate you just because of a scar."

He tries to comfort her with his kind positive words.

"You're wrong Donald, men these generations have changed. Love is just an option for most men. Most of them are just after women's beauty, connections, hierarchy, and money for as long as they could benefit until the end. But only a few men still exist in this world with dignity and integrity that aren't shaken or blinded by today's hypocrisy and entitlement."

Butler Donald could feel the resentment boiling inside Lady Agatha towards her uncle. Lord Douglas Ashton has been doing unnecessary ill-suited plans that are against Lady Agatha's will. He has been working with the Ashton Family since he was young and has seen how Lady Agatha has grown and been through from when she was born until she is now today.

"You're right, my Lady. I have nothing against how you perceived this generation. However, I will do my very best to find someone who can fulfil my job. I will not leave until I am contented enough to leave you with someone who can stand by your side."

Butler Donald's words made Lady Agatha's emotions calm down. As she slowly sat on the couch and sighed.

"Donald, if you are to find your replacement, find someone who does not belong to the neighborhood. Someone who does not know anyone around including me. You know Uncle Douglas has many leeches under his sleeves." As she massages her right temple with her two fingertips.

"Yes, My Lady."

As quietly before Butler Donald left the room, he gazed at Lady Agatha's back, sitting on the couch, and once again she is in deep thought.

"I hope one day, Lady Agatha will have someone who will cherish her and walk with her hand in hand just like her father and mother used to be."

As everyone in the mansion is attending to their own responsibilities cleaning, dusting, gardening, cooking, and housekeeping never would there be a dull moment when most of the attendants gossip about Lady Agatha's engagement with the well-known Aristocrat, Jason Holmes, the son from an Aristocrat Family, Lord Benedict Holmes that has been spreading around the city central of Dale.

"Mother, I have heard a news mongering about Lady Agatha this morning in town," Ashley said while she was stirring the soup on the big stockpot.

"What?" as her mother, Carrie, kneaded the dough smoothly for making bread.

"I heard that Lady Agatha is going to marry one of the aristocrats in town. They said that Lord Douglas is in favor of this young, smart, and handsome man who is known for his political affairs and adored by every young lady around." Ashley naively said as she poured the thinned sliced vegetables into the stockpot.

"Well, the last time I heard, no man would want to marry her because of the ugly scar on her face. And now they are making a fuss about her getting married. What a nuisance, people these days have nothing to do but gush over other people's lives."

Carrie felt annoyed while kneading the next dough roughly.

"But mother - "

"Don't listen to such rumors."

"Ahem!" Butler Donald interrupted.

"Oh, you're here." Carrie wipes her hand on the apron.

"Uncle Donald, is it true that Lady Agatha will get married soon?"

Ashley could not stop her curiosity, as she turned her head back and looked at Butler Donald while stirring.

"Ashley!" Carrie's face turns red and annoyed.

Butler Donald puts down the tray as he sighs.

"Never listen to what the crowd says. Lady Agatha is very cognizant of this kind of matter. I suggest you do not entangle this foolishness of yours, Ashley." Butler Donald explained as he took off his white cotton gloves.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Donald, it's just that it worries me that people talk such discourtesy about Lady Agatha. She's been really kind to us, and for me, she is the most alluring lady I know compared to those two-faced ladies, hmp!."

Ashley pouted her lips as she crossed her arms while holding the ladle. Then, she turns back to her cooking, annoyed, and naively mumbling all by herself.

Butler Donald and Carrie just looked at each other.