The Arrogant Duke

CHAPTER NINE

Edward remembered the familiar scene he had put himself to years ago when Grace had left for America the first time around. Edward promptly drank himself to the point that he had beaten Mr Parker to death. He wanted to forget the way he stood by the altar like an imbecile when Henley Hamilton approached him to tell of the news.

At first, he had wanted to run after her, but Henley said that it was too late. By the time he found her, she would have already disgraced herself. He would have forgiven her still, if she came back to marry him.

Edward thought of himself as a fool. He wished that the years had allowed him to grow maturely, but after all these years, it may be hard to admit, but he still loved Grace very much. Now that she is a widow, he contemplated on whether or not he should finally go after the only woman he’d ever love.

Edward reread the lines of the letter over and over again – she had loved him as well.

Maybe it was a sign.

“Are you going to mope around like a child for the rest of your life whenever she leaves?” Jessamine entered the room without any permission. “Edward, if you still love her then chase after her.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jessamine.” Edward said. “Leave me alone.”

“No,” Jessamine stood her ground. “The last time that she left you were a wreck for a whole year. You almost drank yourself to death.”

“It’s not that simple.” Edward told her. “The last time she left, it was because she loved another man. She loved me, but she loved that bloody man more. This time, I chased her away. I did the most rotten thing that anyone could ever do to a person. I took her a loved one away from her.”

“You should at least try,” Jessamine said. “Life is about taking risks – you get her back, then that’s good. You fail, then you will always have your family waiting for you.”

“She will never forgive me, Jess.” Edward knew that it would be hard to persuade Grace to return to Suffolk.

“You tried, and that’s the only thing that matters.” Jessamine was still trying to convince Edward. She could not bear see him suffering any longer. “That’s one less thing to regret about on your death bed, Edward.”

“I love her,” Edward admitted. “So much that I don’t mind if she goes away forever and be happy with her life, and I be miserable with mine.”

“Then you love her enough to go and chase after her before she boards that blasted ship heading towards Boston, as well.” Jessamine said. “Go, and be happy.”

Edward stood up from his chair, half drunk. “Thank you.”