Asher's siblings returned from the ball in foul moods.
"The whole thing was a waste of time!" Driscoll complained. They were all sitting in the sunroom enjoying breakfast. Asher was tending to the fire, only half his mind on the task.
"What happened?" Stepmother stirred her tea, listening to the complaints of her spoiled children.
"The Prince was obviously already taken with someone." Anna whined. "He only danced one dance and then was gone for the rest of the ball. The whole atmosphere was spoiled."
"The Prince didn't even stay at his own ball? Very bad manners." Stepmother said with a burp.
"Then the other nobles and wealthy people left because the prince was gone." Driscoll grumbled, "We might as well have let Ashes come."
Asher checked his smile and slid out of the room. He was actually sorry for his siblings; it would have been to their advantage to meet someone the other night. And who knows, maybe falling in love would help with their dispositions.
Falling in love, Asher sighed again, for probably the hundredth time that day. He liked Finn very much and hoped that they would get the chance to truly experience love someday.
Later that day, while buying groceries, Asher learned that his siblings were not the only ones concerned about what happened at the ball. The whole town was talking about the mysterious lord who had stolen the heart of the prince. Asher became embarrassed to hear what people had to say. It was one thing to hear his siblings talk over the ball and the mystery, but some of the rumors Asher overheard about himself were positively shocking! The worst was that he was the most expensive courtesan who came from the neighboring kingdom to bewitch the royal family.
Asher, blushing furiously over the rumors, tried to hurry from town when the royal coach arrived.
With great disappointment, he noticed that the person exiting the coach was not Finn, but a messenger with a public notice. Because of the crowd, Asher was forced to stay and hear the news from the palace.
"Let it be known that the Crown Prince Phineas has fallen in love with the mysterious person at the ball. The Prince humbly requests that this person comes forward and presents himself at the palace so that they may begin their courtship."
Asher's ears were ringing; he could hardly believe that Finn was really doing something like this.
"To confirm the identity of this person, the Prince has in his possession a certain item that this person dropped at the ball."
Asher thought of his watch, it would certainly be unique enough that most people wouldn't be able to even imagine such an item.
"Should this person be willing to meet with the Prince, it is requested that they bring the accompanying piece with them to the palace."
The messenger left.
Asher guessed that there would be a number of people showing up at the castle, claiming to be the mystery lord. By presenting a challenge like this, it would help limit the number of people claiming that they knew the truth.
Satisfied that no one would be able to steal Finn from him, Asher went back home.
Two days later, Asher called on Mr. Able again, ready to talk about their plans. Mr. Able had contacted a lawyer friend of his and they had a few ideas ready to discuss.
Ms. Morgan, a talented lawyer about the same age as Mr. Able, also thought that Asher was too softhearted about the issue. "She used dishonest means to steal a sizable fortune from you, and in the process she has almost bankrupted your property."
"I understand." Asher said sadly, seeing the hard numbers was depressing, "However, my mind is made up."
Mr. Able gave Asher an approving look. He might not agree with Asher's decision, but he did respect Asher for standing firm for his ideals.
"Very well." Ms. Morgan agreed, "I will draw up the contract and get everything in order."
Once all the legal issues had been settled, Asher was going to tell his stepfamily how things were going to be from now on, it was not a conversation he was looking forward too.
Ms. Morgan took her leave and Mr. Able saw her out.
Standing in the study Asher couldn't help but look at the portrait of Finn.
"He is looking for you." Mr. Able said coming into the study and seeing where Asher was looking.
"I know." Asher said with a weary sigh, then his head suddenly shot up, "What?!" He realized that Mr. Able wouldn't know that Asher was the mystery lord from the ball.
Mr. Able laughed, "Well, I wasn't totally sure it was you until just now."
Asher felt embarrassed to have been so easily tricked. Then thinking about it, he realized this was the second trick Mr. Able had played on him, "You knew he was the prince the other day when I was talking about meeting him."
Mr. Able sat down in a chair, still smiling, "Of course I know he's the prince, he is my cousin after all. In fact, I was the one that introduced my cousin Josephine to Queen Margaretta years before their marriage."
"You didn't tell me that before though. It would have been helpful to know."
"When you called him Finn, I realized that he must have gone to a lot of trouble to hide the truth from you and I didn't think I should ruin it for you just yet. You both looked very love sick that day."
"Finn came here too?"
He laughed again, "That's right. Not five minutes after you left the other day, he arrived. Finn has often visited me, as a neutral party, I can often offer advice on issues in the palace. But that day he was here talking about the cute country boy he had met named Asher."
"Let me guess, you didn't tell him that you knew me."
"Once again, I assumed it wasn't my place to interfere." He said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"You must have enjoyed playing your trick on us."
Mr. Able sighed, "Actually, I thought that it wouldn't be so bad if you never met again. Let me explain," He said quickly when he saw Asher's expression, "Finn's life is a hard one Asher, not the one that I would pick for you. Moreover, if it was a passing fancy on one of your parts, then I thought that it would be best if I stayed out of it. If either of you were serious, I was sure that fate would led a little hand. If it did, I promised myself that I would help."
"Thank you." Asher was glad that Mr. Able was looking after him even though it wasn't necessary. "I do want to meet with Finn again though."
"Then why haven't you gone to the palace? Over a hundred people have turned up at the palace over the last few days, all claiming to be you."
Asher was surprised, even though Finn would easily be able to discredit everyone who went; it was still unexpected that so many tried. "I made myself a promise of something I must do before we meet again."
"This business with your stepmother?"
Asher nodded, "I know I will not ever be Finn's equal in wealth or birth. Nevertheless, I want to meet with him without this hanging over my head. Then I can at least meet with him as a free man on my own feet."
Mr. Able looked proud, "I shouldn't have interceded. You are clearly capable of handling yourself."
Asher agreed that it wasn't that long ago he wasn't capable. However, maybe by settling things with his stepmother, he could prove to himself that he was capable.
It was another three days before Asher was able to call his stepmother and siblings into the same room. They had been so shocked that he asked for something that they all followed Asher into the parlor without a sound.
"It is time that we talked about how the property will be handled from now onwards."
Asher's opening statement was met with silence, but he could tell that the three were mentally scrambling.
"I have contacted a lawyer who has helped me understand what the best course of action should be."
Stepmother went pale at the mention of a lawyer, "Now Ash dear," She said sweetly, "There isn't any need to bring lawyers into this business."
"I cannot believe you did this without us knowing about this!" Driscoll reprehended.
"How cruel of you! Think of poor mother." Anna shrieked.
Asher ignored them all, "Many regrettable things happened after father died. But what is important now is what I am going to do with my inheritance which includes this house."
The three kept talking, trying to stop Asher from saying anything more. However, Asher's newfound strength did not let him down. Without the tiniest waver he continued, "I am going to take complete control of the property and finances for this estate. Mr. Hower will be let go and I hope never to see him again."
No one could really argue for Mr. Hower, they all had to silently admit that the man had not managed the property well.
"Stepmother, I invite you to continue living here. I will continue to pay you an annuity out of the income from the estate. It will not be as large as you are used too however."
Stepmother, still pale, only nodded. Asher was surprised; he had expected her to resist losing any of the money. Maybe the fact that Asher was not pressing legal action against her, made her more compliant.
"I also would like both of my siblings to keep living here. Provided that they give a little to the estate to help it rebound. Both of you have successful careers and should be able to afford this much."
Neither of them spoke, they seemed to be weighing their options.
"I have had the papers drawn up with all the particulars; you are free to look them over. I will not be bargaining on any of the points though."
He paused before going on, "One last thing. My name is Asher. From this day forth, please refer to me by my name."
Driscoll was the first to react; he picked up the large stack of legal documents and began perusing them. "Are you sure these calculations are correct?" He asked, looking at the pages talking about the projected rebuilding of the estate.
"Yes."
"But there is such a small amount of money left; I can't believe we can even get started."
"I have a friend helping me secure a loan. However, it would be less if you and Anna continued to live here and help."
Anna began pitching a fit over the situation. She would not tolerate the turnaround in her fortune or Asher's character. Stepmother was still quite silent; Asher wasn't sure if this was consent to the plan or if she had simply wandered back into a daydream.
Anna moved out that night. She was livid and couldn't believe that her family wasn't putting up more of a fight. Driscoll decided to live in the house. He didn't call Asher "Ash" or "Ashes" anymore, but he tried to avoid calling him by name at all. Stepmother didn't seem any different than usual, Asher wondered if the other shoe would drop at some point, but for now things were calm with her.
Asher felt a new sense of pride at his actions. For the first time in his life, he felt accomplished and ready for what came next. It was with that feeling that Asher's mind turned to Finn.
