Elsie was rooted to the spot as she stared at David. He had hardly changed at all in the twenty five years since that awful night.
Robert stood just behind David and looked at Ella as she stood in front of her mother. He had never seen her with such a look of hate on her face as she had now, but he couldn't speak or do anything as he looked from him to her and then to poor Elsie.
'Robert what exactly is going on here? You have all been acting strangely all night and I demand to know what this is all about!' Violet demanded.
Ella held her hand behind her back and clasped Elsie's in hers, to try and offer her what little comfort that she could.
'Papa this isn't appropriate; I need to get Mrs Hughes up stairs.' Ella said firmly and Robert quite agreed.
'Of course Ella.' He said, but before she could move, Elsie's knees buckled and she was grateful that Charlie was standing behind her, to catch her.
Ella was quick to react and helped Charlie to lead her over to the bench by the stairs.
'Mrs Hughes are you quite alright?' Robert asked with genuine concern; but Ella was furious.
'Of course she isn't alright Papa. We should never have been put into this situation in the first place!' She spat angrily as she glanced angrily in David's direction, who looked utterly bewildered by this turn of events, but Violet had become very quiet as a few things began to fall into place.
'Mam everything will be alright, I promise; I'm right here beside you. Just take really deep breaths for me, nice and slowly.' Ella said kindly as she knelt in front of her mam and still clasped her hands tightly. 'Mr Carson, might I ask that you fetch a glass of water?' She asked and watched as he disappeared quickly, but he gave a very angry glare towards Robert and then to David as he walked past them.
Ella soothingly trailed her hand down Elsie's cheek as she tried to relax her as much as she could and even though she was some comfort to her, nothing could stop her heart from beating painfully in her chest. She was as white as a sheet and there were beads of sweat forming on her brow. With the stress she was under, Ella was terrified that she was about to have a stroke or a heart attack and she was desperate to do anything to prevent that from happening.
'It's alright Mam, you're safe with me; I won't let anything bad happen to you, I promise. We'll get through this together, alright?' Ella said quietly as she tried again to calm her and she no longer tried to refer to her mother by her title; she didn't care whether or not Robert approved, as she felt angry at him for allowing this situation to occur. In her mind, David should never have been allowed back inside the house.
'Do you think someone might let us in on what is going on? Why did your daughter just refer to that woman as her mother? And Mama is right, there has been quite an atmosphere tonight; I demand to know what is going on!' David said with a raised and frustrated voice, which sounded a lot like Robert.
Ella took a very deep and controlled breath, just as Mr Carson returned with the water and sat beside Elsie. Ella then stood up and took a few steps towards her grandmother and uncle.
'All of us have things in our past that we would much rather forget; you lost all if your past and were given a second chance to build your life, perhaps it is better that your past, therefore, stays lost. You have a family now and a new life; I strongly suggest that you return to it and never come back here again.' Ella said quite calmly and no one could believe that she could still be so compassionate at such a time, to want to protect him from himself.
'Good God!' Violet exclaimed in grief as she raised her hand to her mouth, finally realising the final piece if Ella's jigsaw.
'Now you really do have to tell me what is going on. What is it that I did? Please tell me. I came here to find out who I once was, so tell me, why do you hate me so?' David asked and he clearly feared the answer, but he needed to know.
There was an awkward silence from everyone for a few moments until only one voice was heard, that gave so much emotion in one simple sentence, but one that took a lot of courage to say it.
'Because you are her father; that's why.' Elsie said with a quiver in her voice as she looked straight into the eyes of her attacker.