The Arrogant Duke

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Edward!" Henley greeted him happily, along with Benjamin who seemed to have been surprised with the visit. "It has been a very long time, my good friend. Why, I've not seen you since ... the wedding."

"Has it really been that long, Henley?" Edward asked.

"Five years." Henley confirmed. "What brings you here?"

"I came to talk about Grace." Edward could immediately see Henley's change of expression, as well as Benjamin's.

"I have nothing to do with that girl, not anymore." Henley said firmly. "If it is the only thing that you wish to talk about then leave. I do not believe I will enjoy this conversation with you."

"I am not enjoying it as well, but it is what I deem proper." Edward replied. "Spare me a moment of your time."

"Alright," Henley agreed. "What is it then?"

"I came to say that Grace and I have made up, and we've decided to continue what was to be done years ago." Edward stated.

Henley scoffed. "The nerve of that girl," he murmured. "So, you came to ask for my blessings?"

Edward shook his head. "No, I came today to ask you to forgive Grace."

"Forgive her?" Henley repeated. "Over my dead body."

"Papa," Benjamin interrupted. "It's what you've always wanted."

"Go ahead and get married," Henley said. "But I will never forgive her for disobeying me. Shame on her for sending you here."

"Grace does not know." Edward said back. "What is going on in this room right now, she does not need to know. Henley, do know this - she will be more than willing to take a bullet for you because you are her father. Yes, she disobeyed you but it was for a reason we all cannot say was a sin. Love.

Ever since she was a young girl, she has always been at your beck and call. She has never once disappointed you because it was her responsibility as your daughter. She loved you because you were her father, and she was more than willing to sacrifice her future and herself just for your sake and pride. She agreed to marry me then even though she was miserable just to make you happy.

I never thought that there would come a day that I would have forgiven her, but I did and it opened my heart to so much more that the world could offer me. What about you, Henley?"

Henley brooded for a short while. "I love her, of course. She's my own flesh and blood. I just never thought of it that way before. I over thought things, and thought that marrying her off to you would secure her future. I never thought to ask her if she was happy along the way."

"I'm sure that she saw your intentions purely." Benjamin spoke. "And she would much appreciate it if she heard this from you herself."

"It's not too late, Henley." Edward chided. "She's missing her father."

"And James is eager to meet his grandfather." Benjamin added.

Henley did not waste a moment afterwards. Edward accompanied Henley to Grace's new residence where Grace was surprisingly shocked of her father's unexpected visit, but she welcomed Henley wholeheartedly anyway.

It was not long before Henley began apologizing for his faults. Edward took charge of young James and took him outdoors to give Henley and Grace some privacy. They would surely be having a long and tearful talk that would sum up what had been the past five years of their lives.

Edward guessed that Henley would not take the news of losing a granddaughter just months ago well. The news had been a storm in the sea that even he felt guilty about. It was no secret that Henley was a contribution to Grace's stress at the time as well.

He only hoped that all will be well, and that Grace's relationship with her father would be repaired. And that a bond would finally form between them.

He knew that it would be the greatest gift that he could ever give Grace.

"Uncle Edward," James called him, formally for the first time. "May I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" Edward asked, curious as to what James thought.

"Do you love my Mama?" James asked candidly.

Edward nodded. "I do."

"Are you going to marrying my Mama?" James asked again.

"I will, in the right time." Edward nodded once again. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I have another question." James said. "If I ask Mama, then she'll cry for sure."

"What's your question?" Edward asked. "It's alright to ask me."

"If you marry Mama, then what will happen to my Daddy?" James asked innocently. "I know that he will never come back, but ... will Mama still love my Daddy?"

"Of course, she will." Edward agreed. "James, to marry another person does not mean that your Mama will no longer love or forget your Daddy. It only means that her heart is capable of loving more. Just as she loves you and me and everyone else."

"Oh," James realized. "I like you a lot, Uncle Edward. You're awfully nice to me, and you can make my Mama happy."

Edward smiled, he hoped that James would grow to love him more. Not to replace his father's place in his heart, but to simply fill the void that would soon grow as James will as well.

Edward and James returned a few hours later to find Grace standing on the porch of their little home. He assumed that Henley had left with renewed hearts and an open mind for his daughter, as well as his grandson.

"Papa has invited us for supper tonight." Grace said excitedly.