THE DISAGREEABLE DUCHESS

CHAPTER TEN

The two gazed upon each other on both ends of the hall. Olivia's heart was beating faster than a running horse, she stood motionless as Colin stared at her. On the other hand, Colin couldn't contain the excitement. It was as if a blind man was seeing for the first time in his life. And although children came running from a room to another, for the two of them, they were the only two people left in the world.

Colin made the first move and opened his arms wide open, slowly walking towards Olivia who was in shock. But halfway across the hall, Olivia runs towards him, wrapped her arms all around Colin and buried her face in his shoulder.

"You should've at least send me a warning note before visiting, unexpectedly." She whispered.

"I couldn't wait any further, one more day and I'm sure I'll explode." He replied. "How have you been, friend?"

"Bloody well and busy." Spat Olivia who spoke in an accent. "And you?"

"Overly joyed and tired."

Children then came shouting in, chasing each other. Two boys who were seven and eight in age.

"Boys, go back to the rooms." Ordered Magnolia, who was dazed seeing her granddaughter's hips wrapped around a man's arms. "And who might this gentleman be, Olivia?"

"Grandma, this is Colin. I've mentioned him to you a couple of times before." Replied Olivia, who was pushing Colin away.

Then it hits Magnolia. "The man who brought you to London to meet your father!" She shouts.

"The very one." Colin agrees. "But I'm not here to take Olivia to London to see her father, rather, I came here with your father who's come to see you."

Olivia's eyes widened. "He's here?" She asks in a panicking tone.

"He's in the carriage."

"Then call for him, young man." Said Magnolia. "Tell him his mother-in-law's waiting for him."

Colin obliges and steps outside quickly, which gave both Olivia and Magnolia time to have the children to evacuate the place.

A few minutes later, Colin, his parents and David were sat in the drawing room while Olivia and Magnolia serves them tea and cakes.

"Magnolia," Called David. "it's been a long time."

"Yes, it was so long that you missed your daughter's whole life." She says in an irritated tone.

"I think we should discuss this in private, Magnolia. Not here when Olivia's watching. Not here while everyone's watching." David gazed upon Olivia who was shocked from her grandmother's reaction.

"Olivia, why don't you show our guests our lovely garden?" Magnolia calmly asks Olivia. "Your father and I will have a very, very long talk."

Olivia stands up, unable to utter another word. She looks at Colin who seems to be getting the meaning of her glance.

So Colin follows and stands up as well. "Mother, father."

And they all followed Olivia on their way to the garden.

Magnolia and David waited till they heard the back door shut behind Olivia and company before they started their conversation.

"So tell me David," Magnolia starts. "where have you been for most of Olivia's life?"

Olivia was in deep shock, they were sitting by the porch while waiting to be called back inside.

Colin was sitting between her and his parents. He could hear his parents discuss and admire the garden which was filled with rows and rows of flowers and vegetables. He even heard his mother say of having a house like this someday. And it only gave him a lot more desire to work and work harder.

"Would you like to explain yourself?" Asked Magnolia.

"There's really nothing to do the story. I was a man who was grieving for the unexpected death of his wife and was unable to move on. I knew I couldn't face Olivia, I couldn't face my own daughter." He admitted. "I was afraid, I was a mess and I was grieving. I didn't know if I'll be able to fulfill my duty to her as her father without her mother. So I left thinking that she'll be in better hands in you than me."

"In your part, you were worried that you won't be able to fulfill the duties of a father to hir child, that's why you left, am I correct?" Magnolia asked him once more.

David nods.

"Well if you were the daughter who grew up worriedly thinking that her father hates her and her father's claiming her responsible for her mother's death, what would you feel?" She asks one more time. "Every damn night when she was a child, she would ask me time and time again 'when is my father coming home', 'why did he left' and most damn importantly 'does he hate me because I killed mama'. What excuse would you have given her?"

"I didn't know..." He didn't have the pride to raise his head, nor voice. He said in a whisper-like manner.

"Of course you didn't know!" She shouts. "You weren't here, David!"

After much hours of shouting, Magnolia finally allows Olivia and guests inside the house.

Her eyes were red from anger, throat hoarse from shouting and most of all weak from all the emotional stress she's been through.

And when everyone was settled in the drawing room again, Magnolia says. "Just stay here for the night, I'm sure all of you are tired. There's room for everyone to sleep in." Then she stands up and heads for the door. "I'm retiring for the night. Olivia make sure to feed our guests."

"But grandma, it's only 4 o'clock in the afternoon." Olivia stops her.

"I'm feeling a bit light headed."

"Would you like for me to call for a doctor?" She asks.

"No need dear, rest will do fine."

"Alright."

Olivia proceeds to the kitchen with Tommy and Tara to assist her. She opted to make a light and easy meal for the night. Bread and corn soup. Simple, delicious and filling.

After cooking, the children set the table for the seven of them. Placing a basket of bread on the center of the table and putting bowls of soup for each person.

"This is delicious." Said Colin. "I didn't know you could cook." He looks up to Olivia who was quietly eating.

"We didn't have servants to cook for us while I was growing up. I had to do chores too." She replied.

Her words struck David's heart. He suddenly thought of the different life Olivia could've have growing up as a duke's daughter. She wouldn't have to lift a finger, nor cook. She could have, no, she should have. It was all his fault why his daughter suffered, and Magnolia's words kept on revolving around his mind 'does he hate me because I killed mama?'. It felt like somebody was trying to cut his stomach open.

The dinner silently ended in which everyone went to bed afterwards. Olivia was left alone with Colin while she's finishing the dishes.

"So, tell me..." He said. "Why were there kids running around the house earlier today?"

"It started recently... Every Saturday and Sunday, grandma and I welcome street children, or any children, for the matter who's willing to learn." She says proudly. "We provide them with food and basic education."

"That's a good idea, considering the growing rate of orphanhood in the country. It will definitely be of use to children like Tommy and Tara."

"That's the point." She agrees. "I would like to see a change, to see a difference. I would like to see a world where women get equal respect like any other person. I would like to see a world where no one's mocked by being poor or illiterate."

"Then, in other terms, you wish to see a miracle."

"It's not impossible, right?" She asks.

"I don't know... Maybe, we can't be sure."

Colin admired Olivia's thoughts, it was worldly and totally out of the box for the average female species. He liked that she was different. He liked that she belonged to him.

"About us courting..." Olivia quietly changes the topic. "Are we still... you know..."

"We are... Honestly, I'm starting to really like you as a friend." He admits.

"Then, I like you a lot too, Colin." She gives him a warm smile, afterall, that's what friends do, right?

"And have you thought of pursuing another courtship and break ours?"

"No," She disagreed. "I've turned down every single one of my suitors, why are you thinking about having another?"

"No, I don't think I've ever been this loyal to a girl before... I think I only want you." He says. "You really, really keep me happy and entertained despite our differences."

In the letters they've sent to each other, they discuss about each other. Often times, they'd see a lot of very drastic differences against each other. But that's how they both like it. They like that it's new and refreshing.

"What will happen to us now?" She asks. "We've agreed to stay in this relationship, but..." She breathes. "we're only friends, Colin. I don't see you as someone who's to be in a deeper relationship with me."

"We can marry." He suggests. "We don't have to love each other to do so, right? And after all, we respect each other equally. That's all we need."

"A marriage without love?" She asks in disbelief. "Sure we can remain as friends within the relationship, but... How about children? We can't do 'it' without love."

"We only need to have a son, one time will be enough I guess." He awkwardly replies. "We don't have to do it right away. We'll wait until you're ready."

"But what if it takes us forever?"

"Then so be it." He says coolly. "Marry me, Olivia."