The Arrogant Duke

CHAPTER FOUR

Grace was very thankful that Jessamine accepted her as Georgina and Louis’ new governess. She and James have been staying in the maid’s quarters where she insist they belong. She did not like the thought of seeing Edward, even in the hallways of a very large manor. Grace had a plan – she would avoid him.

Edward had been gone for nearly three days now, Grace was informed that he had a certain business to attend to in London, though she did not ask what exactly. She did not care, she had no right to.

In the span that Edward was gone, Grace was able to meet the mystery man that was able to capture the heart of the ever beautiful Jessamine Thompson – Howard Thompson. He was a very nice man, and Grace could see the love that Howard had for Jessamine and their two children.

Howard apparently inherited a family business and made his fortunes through investments and stocks. Jessamine was not excited of the fact that Howard was putting his fortunes at risk as the stock market was something new that came to England recently. Howard could only reassure his wife that everything would be alright.

Jessamine was pleased with young James, and how Grace had managed to bring him up and school him alone. How she just wished that her two children would be as behaved and intelligent as James. Georgina and Louis were quite rowdy and loud, but she loved them anyways.

Jessamine was rather excited, now she had a female companion inside the house. Not that she could not talk to her friends or maids in the manor, it was just that she and Grace knew each other from the time they were in the schoolroom, although Grace was a bit older than Jessamine. She knew that Grace was someone who she could always trust and rely upon.

“My husband and I established a small clinic in Boston,” Grace told Howard and Jessamine one Tuesday afternoon. “It was never our goal to profit from it, we just liked the thought of helping those who are in need.”

“I’m sorry to ask such a personal question, but how exactly did he die?” Howard asked.

“He died from cholera.” Grace replied simply. “It was a terrible outbreak, I was just thankful that neither James nor I caught it before travelling to England.”

“Oh my,” Jessamine gasped. “I could not imagine the horror.”

“Yes,” Grace agreed. “But my husband was a great man, and he will always be loved.”

Jessamine grabbed a cup of tea from the table, “I was curious, how are Georgina and Louis doing? I’ve always wanted to visit them in the schoolroom and bring snacks, but their former governess had told me not to do so as I would distract the children. Do you see any improvements?”

“I’ve always told this to my sister-in-law in Boston – Children will be children. One cannot simply control what they would like to do or say right now as they are not old enough to understand what is right from wrong, or good or bad, so we should just let them be. We are merely present in their lives to act as a guide for them to follow and to help them pursue their dreams.” Grace said. “I was just lucky with James, I guess. He was always such a calm baby.”

“I, for one, do not think that we have been great parents.” Howard concluded. “Georgina and Louis could be more disciplined if I were to be beside them all the time, but I simply can’t."

“Raising children does not require you to spend time them while they were growing. Time is nothing, and it will change and perish. Love. Love is the only thing you need in raising children.” Grace thought of herself as an expert all of a sudden. “Children appreciate the gifts and presents that they receive whenever you went somewhere far away, Howard. But they can always learn to appreciate the fact their Papa is working very hard not for the money, but for them.”

Flashbacks were forming at the back of her head, how she missed the times that her husband would bring James inside the consultation office and how he would explain to him very patiently the tools he used as a pediatrician. Little James may not have a father anymore, but Grace hoped that her husband would always be a great memory for James to cherish for the rest of his life.

“I’ve never thought of it that way,” Jessamine said quietly. “I doubt it neither Georgina nor Louis knows their father’s occupation. We’ve never really discussed business matters in front of the children.”

“I think that I will start bringing the children to work from now on,” Howard concluded. “Besides the fact that we would be able to spend more time together as a family, bringing them to work will also allow them to know more about our business and maybe spark an interest in investments and banking.”

Grace thought that Jessamine and Howard were young parents, soon enough they would grow to realise their faults and correct them as a family. She thought that no family is ever perfect, at the end of the day it would always be about loving and sharing happiness with each other while they still can.

“As you two are both members of an aristocratic family, it is your duties to learn manners and conduct. Georgina, as a lady you must learn to be fine and proper. A good lady will never slouch, or make faces, or fight with their younger siblings.” Grace chuckled, along with Georgina who thought of it funny because it was true. She had always fought with Louis with every trivial thing they encountered. “As a lady, you are expected to learn to play musical instruments, learn every dance like the waltz and the quadrille, learn how to sew, to sing, you may even learn a different language other than English if you desire.”

“I want to learn Chinese!” Georgina said.

“Why is that?” Grace asked curiously.

“Because one time, we had a visitor from China, and he talked funny!”

“It is funny because you cannot understand him, but it is not right to make fun of another man’s language.” Grace scolded Georgina. “Language is a very powerful medium that is used to communicate with another person, a friend perhaps, and it is now to be made fun off no matter the sound or pronunciation. You may not appreciate now, but when you are older you will. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

Grace watched as both Georgina and Louis practiced their writing skills, along with James who seemed disinterested as he was tired. Grace did not mind that he was yawning in front of the children, she thought that such gestures were adorable, but she would surely correct him in the future.

The next few days had been quiet, much to Grace’s surprise. Edward has not yet returned from London, but as long as no one was in the manor to disrupt her peace, Grace did not care.

“Do you have a favorite story?” Grace asked both Georgina and Louis.

“The story of the Little Mermaid.” Georgina immediately responded. “Our former governess used to read us before we go to sleep. It is a bit sad that nobody is doing it for us anymore.”

“My favorite is when Daddy and Mama met.” James interrupted.

Grace was surprised, had her husband told James that they eloped years ago?

“Daddy said that when he saw Mama, he fell in love quickly. But Mama was trapped in a tower guarded by black knights and a bad dragon. So, he slayed all of them to rescue the princess … and move to Boston.” James said.

“Silly!” Georgina told James. “There are no such things as dragons, aren’t there Ms Grace?”

“There were dragons!” Grace replied, entertaining the children. “Long before all of you were born.”

James and Georgina chuckled, but Grace noticed that little Louis was disinterested of the matter and was staying at the back of the room. He had a toy train with him made from metal, Grace thought that he must have some sort of problem or issue. She would have to talk to both Louis and his parents about it.

The chuckling and laughter stopped when someone knocked on the door and opened it ever so slowly. Grace had always left the door slightly open ever since she had a chat with Howard and Jessamine.

She gladly invited them to sit in one of their schooling sessions to play and bond with their children. One time, Jessamine even brought snacks over and the children were delighted, as well as Jessamine who seemed to enjoy doing so.

“Uncle Edward!” Georgina and Louis ran to their Uncle who was intimidatingly staring at Grace. “You’re back.”

“I am,” Edward welcomed his niece and nephew in his arms. “And I’ve brought presents along with me, it is in the sitting room. Why don’t you look at it while I talk to Ms Grace right here?”

Georgina nodded. “Alright, let’s go.” She held her younger brother’s hand and started walking towards the sitting room, but turned back all of a sudden. “You can come along with us, James.”

James beamed and looked at his mother. “Can I?”

“Yes,” Grace nodded, watching all three children leave the room.

Edward closed the door behind the kids and locked it, making Grace swallow uncomfortably. “Now,” he started. “I do not recall Mrs Bennett laughing and chatting with the children whenever she was teaching them.”

Grace was immediately offended, was he insulting the way she taught the children? “It is none of your business.”

“Feisty, aren’t we?” Edward raised a brow. “I thought you would be gone before I returned, Grace.”

“Why should I leave?” Grace challenged.

“Because I personally do not want to see you traipsing along the halls of my house. I do not want to see you nor your bastard here in my property.”

Grace lifted her hand and slapped Edward across his cheek, she could feel that it stung as it immediately turned red. “You do not have a right to say that to my child! James is not an illegitimate child, you arrogant monster!” Grace calmed a bit. “James has a father, as I have a husband.”

“Then, where is he?” Edward asked without any reluctance, nor guilt. “Has he coward off and left you and your son hanging?”

Grace had no energy and patience left inside of her to deal with the stubborn man, so she turned to face the door and started walking without uttering another word.

“I am serious about it, Grace.” Edward said. “I want you out of my property, be as far as you can away from me and my family. Stay out of my life.”