Theo nodded eagerly. He never missed the chance to eat cookies whenever offered one because his mother always forbade him from eating too much sweets. "Book! Cookies!"
"Let tell the maid to bring cookies for you," Lord George said.
*
Kate and Henry sat in front of Lord George, who was busy giving soft cookies for Theo to try.
The boy sat on his lap and ate everything given to him. He seed to have no problem spending ti with his Grandpa, and Lord George was already so fond of Theo.
Kate and Henry looked at each other as the old Duke ignored them.
"I did what you told to do, father," Henry brushed up the topic. "I bring my wife and son, now that you’ve seen them, I hope that you can give the blessing."
Lord George was so imrsed in playing with his grandson that he seed to have forgotten his promise.
He lifted his head, staring at Henry, who looked serious while holding Kate’s hand.
"I have no intention of stopping you from marrying Katherine," Lord George said. "I just want to bring her here because I want to see their faces."
"So, you will—"
"—But," Lord George interrupted. "I want to ask Katherine’s opinion about this. She is the one who will stand by your side as a Duchess. So she needs to be ready."
Lord George shifted his gaze at Katherine, "Katherine Ross, you should know that getting married to a Duke is not only about fancy castles, dresses, and jewelry. The noble circle is not as fun as you might think, and you have to keep up with your appearance even when you’re not in a formal event."
"I know that you’re not born a noble or from an established family like Henry, but I hope you can learn and adapt to the environnt after you marry him," Lord George said solemnly. "If you’re not ready with this, I suggest you say it now because a divorce in a noble circle is seen as heavily shaful."
"Father, you’re scaring her!" Henry complained. He held Kate’s hand tighter, afraid that Kate would get intimidated by Lord George’s words.
After all, Kate had a history of running away. What if she wanted to back off now?
"Kitty, please don’t listen to him. I will make sure that you are well protected. I will not let those pesky won talk you down!" Henry desperately tried to convince his beloved to discard her worries for him. He was so close to reaching his true happiness that he didn’t want anything to ruin it. "You don’t even need to attend any ball or party. You can do whatever you want!"
"It’s not healthy to spoil her like this, Henry," Lord George reprimanded him. "She will be a Duchess. She will have to adhere to so rules within the circle."
Henry glared at Lord George and brazenly said, "If my status as a Duke will stop from marrying her, then I would rather resign from my position. You can take this back."
"Henry! Your position is not for your irrational thinking! You have a big responsibility on your shoulders!" Lord George also raised his voice but stopped when he felt a small hand tugging his shirt.
He looked down, and saw Theo staring at him with confusion, "Grandpa, Papa, don’t fight... Mama will be sad..."
Lord George cald down instantly under his grandson’s plea. He smiled at Theo and gave him another cookie, "Forgive Grandpa, okay? Don’t worry, we won’t fight anymore."
"Un..." Theo nodded and began nibbling on the cookie again.
Though Lord George tried to calm down, Henry hadn’t cald down. He was agitated, thinking that Kate had to adhere to strict rules that would only make her suffer.
"Lord George, just like what I told you before. I took this position to bring her back. What is the point of making a Duke when she cannot be a Duchess without all of those bullshit rules?!" Henry continued raising his voice and began scaring Theo.
Kate finally cald him down by hugging his arm. She pulled him back to the chair. Kate put her hand on his chest and patted it gently.
"Henry, calm down, you’re scaring our son," Kate said.
"But, Katherine..." Henry was reluctant to give up now. He already imagined Kate leaving again with their son.
If that happened for the second ti, then Henry probably wouldn’t be able to maintain his sanity anymore.
"Henry, trust ," Kate said with earnestness in her eyes. "I told you many tis that I love you, and you should know it’s not just a word. You went through hell on earth for , so I will do the sa if that ans we can be together."
Kate turned her head toward Lord George, and took a deep breath before uttering what she had in mind;
"I have been guilty because I ran away with Theo for two years. I separated Henry from the woman and the son that he loves. While I have a good life in Maine, Henry had to suffer for two years, doing everything he could so we could reunite," Kate admitted all of her mistakes.
She knew there was no point in hiding anything and no point in sugarcoating. She ran away because she was in fear, even though she had promised Henry to stand by his side no matter what.
"I told him many tis that I would compensate for my mistake. I will also do anything as long as we can be together," Kate said. "So if I have to learn everything about this noble circle from scratch, then I will do it."
Kate intertwined her fingers with Henry’s as she spoke to Lord George, "So please, give us your blessing. I will be a wife and a Duchess worthy of standing next to Henry."
Lord George’s lips finally perked up as he was satisfied with her answer, "Keep your word, Katherine. I can vouch that Henry truly loves you."
"I will," Kate said. She turned at Henry, and their eyes t. She smiled sincerely and added, "I also want to prove my love for him."
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