Don't Call Me Cinderella

Chapter Three: Not-So-Sleepless Nights

It had been a week since the incident.

Ella was still laying awake thinking about everything that could have gone wrong. Everything could have gone wrong.

She couldn't continue risking herself and her job like that. She needed to stay quiet and do as she was told. For the next ten years, she needs to continue being the girl in the background.

Where she belonged.

Ella sighed and turned over, her thoughts becoming too serious for someone who was trying to sleep. She needed to think of happy things and-

Her thoughts were broken when her door crept open and a familiar face peeked in. "Miss Ella?" She sat up and held out her arms.

She could tell by the tone of Mary's voice that she was scared.

The young girl sprang forward and into her arms, dampening her nightgown with tears. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you okay?" Mary shook her head and let out a small sob.

"I-I dreamed that she came back and-and tried to hurt me b-but you! You came and t-tried to help but sh-she hurt you too!" The rest was broken up by sobs, leaving Ella clueless as to what she was saying.

Ella pats the girl's head anyway, humming an old lullaby to calm her down. When the sniffles stopped and tears dried Mary looked up to meet Ella's eyes. "I was going to go to Uncle, but I was too scared to go that far."

Ella sighed and stood up, still holding her. She padded barefoot outside of the door and up the stairs that led to the main hallway. "Where are we going?"

Ella was honestly too tired to answer her but did her best to keep going. "To the Lord." Mary was silent after that but rested her head on Ella's shoulder. 

"Thank you." Ella didn't need to respond. She was doing what she believed was right but silently prayed that the Lord agreed with her on this.

Her feet continued to make contact with the cold floor, guiding her where she needed to go. She didn't know how she was able to hold the girl up for so long but decided that it was best to not question what was helping her.

When the Lord's door came into sight her eyes softened. She felt honored that Mary came to her first, even if it was because she was too scared to go to her Uncle. "Mary."

Her voice quietly woke the girl up, since she began to doze off from the steady walking pace. Mary raised her face to look at her. Ella gestured to the door with her head and waited for Mary to knock.

The little girl got the message and hit her knuckles against the wood, waiting for her Uncle to opened the door. Inside there was a groan, followed by footsteps walking towards them.

When the door opened Ella became flushed, realizing for the first time that she appeared in only her nightgown, to a bachelor's room. He gave her a questioning look before noticing Mary in her arms.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes before opening the door wider. "Come in before someone notices." Ella quickly rushed in, finally freeing her arms of the child by setting her down on the bed.

The Lord ignored her and instead focused his attention on his niece. "What was it this time?" She gulped as tears flooded her eyes. 

"She came back and hurt us." He sighed again and sat on the bed next to her.

Ella chose to not ruin the moment and settled down on the floor. Her head rested next to Mary's legs, which were very far from the ground. Her eyes began to droop from exhaustion, and slowly she began to doze off.

~~

"My Lord-" Eugene opened the door to tell the Lord some news, expecting him to be up and dressed since it was close to noon. Instead, he found the Lord with a protective arm around his niece and a sleeping Ella leaning against the bed.

Of course, he was shocked.

He had no clue what to do but decided that it was best to leave them be. He closed the door back as quietly as he could, trying not to wake the sleeping trio. "Eugene!"

He turned his head when his name was called and watched as a maid rushed up to him. "Have you seen Ella? She disappeared last night and hasn't come back." He glanced at the door behind him and shook his head.

"She was with the Lord and the Young Mistress last I checked." The woman stood appalled but nodded her head anyway. 

"I suppose that means she's excused from work." He nodded his head and shooed her away, not wanting her to wake them up.

He semi-guarded the door until he was called away, but even as he walked off he couldn't help but wonder what led the trio to fall asleep like that and for so long!

They must have been exhausted!

~~

Ella slowly opened her eyes when the sun hit her face. She yawned and stretched, but stopped when she noticed the unfamiliar setting.

Dark walls and a stone fireplace, with charred wood from the night before. In the corner was the four-poster bed with red sheets and covers, which she was currently leaning against.

In front of the fireplace were matching red chairs and a couch, a small coffee table laying between them with papers scattered about. Ella carefully sat up while rubbing her now sore shoulder from being in that dreaded position most of the night.

She heard a pair of soft snores from above her, confusing her further. When she looked up, all of her memories from the night before came flooding back. Even if she was positively embarrassed that she spent the night in the Lord's room, she couldn't help but smile at how he wrapped his arm around the child protectively.

Ella stood up and brushed off her nightgown when she saw a clock sitting on the mantle above the fireplace. It was nearly 1 o'clock!

Oh, she was going to be in so much trouble.

"My Lord?" She timidly called out, fearing his reaction. He groaned before opening his eyes. "It seems that we, um... fell asleep last night after I brought Mary in." He rubbed his eyes and nodded. 

"Yes, I can tell."

Ella bit her lip and looked down at her feet. "It's 1 p.m." She couldn't bring herself to say anymore. She curled her toes and bit her lip harder, trying to distract herself.

"I guess we all needed the sleep then." Mary began to stir in her sleep before opening her eyes. 

"Good morning Uncle! Thank you for letting me stay here!" She cheerily hopped down from the bed and grabbed Ella's hands.

"And thank you, Miss Ella, for bringing me here! Will you help me get dressed this morning?" Ella couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled up but nodded anyway. 

"Well, it's the afternoon but yes, I wouldn't mind helping you change."

Mary smiled a large grin and waved to her Uncle. "Will I see you at dinner?" He sighed and rubbed his eyes, a habit that Ella quickly picked up on. 

"We'll see."

Mary's smile faltered, but not too much to cause worry. "I guess I'll see you later then." Ella silently walked out and tried not to catch too much attention from anyone else.

If she did then her entire career would be ruined.

"Ella." She turned when the Lord called out to her. "This is not a freebie. You still need to complete all of the chores assigned to you today." She nodded before giving in to Mary's tugging.