The Fall Of House Farouk

Chapter 19 : Second Proposal

The Cottage

Bruce sat across me in silence, while two glasses of drinks and a wicker basket full of bagels were on the table. We were sitting on the second floor of the shop, the balcony area to be specific. I didn't expect that remark from Uncle Daniel, even though I knew he was unhappy when I decided to marry Bruce after knowing what happened before we began dating. Uncle Daniel and Aunt Sophia had their own rough patches as well when he was unwilling to leave my aunt to go to Germany when she was pregnant with Se-hun. Uncle Daniel was shocked that Aunt Sophia was willing to leave her job to be with him but they eventually worked it out and Se-hun was born in the country as a result. I know Bruce is not feeling himself now, as Ali's death has an effect on him, and Uncle Daniel's words were not exactly kind to the ears of the initiated. 

I reached out, holding his hand and brushing against the wedding ring on his ring finger. "Don't let Uncle Daniel's words get to you." I say. "I know he didn't mean it." 

"I have something to ask you." Bruce said. He got out of his chair and got down on one knee, holding my hand. "Isabella Reagan." he began. "I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me for the second time?" Tears of joy welled in my eyes as he proposed marriage for the second time. Having a hand over my mouth to try to stop myself from crying I nodded tearfully. 

"Yes, my answer is yes." I say. We shared a hug, but I felt warm despite the cold that we were in. "I love you too." As we let go, Bruce held my hands in his and we shared laughs. 

"I want our wedding to be done properly this time." he said. "Not as rushing as like last time."

"I know." I say. "What about... my grandparents' countryside estate?"

"That would be fine." he said. 

"Then we better finish things up here and head home." I say, holding his hand. 

The skies turned blue as the cars passed through the gates of Blenheim, stopping at the staircase. Three young children stood at the staircase, craning their necks to look for someone. "Mommy! Mommy!" one of them cried out when I stepped out of the car. Victoria came racing down the staircase without a care in the world, while I fretted that she might fall. 

"Be careful Vicky." I say. I looked towards the gardens of the palace, where I noticed that the service staff were preparing for an outdoor party setting. 

Later

I sat at the dressing table, brushing my hair with a hairbrush as Bruce adjusted his cufflinks while standing in view of the full-length mirror. "It reminds me of the times I have been here." Bruce said, his voice soft. "The duke expected polite dress codes."

"I know, I remember that she was trying to outclass me with her attractive gown and to keep you from talking to me." 

"It backfired." Bruce said. "I remember, seeing the soft blue dress that made you stand out from the group of attendees. And the duke berated us as a result of her actions." 

"I would've helped you. But judging from where we stand at that time, it might just make her more jealous towards me." 

"I did want to make my feelings to you known after we broke up." I gently put down the hairbrush and walked towards him. 

"I understand how you feel at that time." I say, adjusting his suit jacket. "But we're together now, and I know that our love is true." I say, my hand on his heart. 

"And I love you more than ever." he said. 

Blenheim's garden, designed by Capability Brown, was your traditional English landscape garden, with fountains and streams. As it was still winter the flowers did not bloom and the flower bushes were covered with heavy snow. A party is organized in the open area of the garden, ostensibly to welcome my grandfather's brother Damian. I wore the same evening gown that I wore to Bruce's birthday party, and he didn't mind that I wore it again. Rows of tables with white tablecloths are arranged, each table with a vase of fresh flowers as a centrepiece. Grandaunt Helen, grandfather and grandmother, Grandaunt Harriet and Granduncle Frank, and Grandaunt Anna, who had travelled from Denmark, sat at the main table, with Granduncle Damian, chatting away like old friends, but are siblings and cousins in this matter. My parents are there as well, waving for this to sit at their still very much empty table. 

"Mom, dad." I greeted with a smile. Dad smiled back, throwing an arm across the top of mom's chair while mom clasped dad's hand in hers. 

"I asked Isabella to marry me for the second time." Bruce declared. 

"You have our blessings for this second ceremony." my parents said. "But if you let us miss the ceremony again... you're going to be married for a third time." Hearing this Bruce and laughed together and he had a hand on my shoulder. 

"You must be my grandmother and grandfather." a voice appeared, alerting us. Damian appeared at our table, dressed in a formal suit. 

"You must be Damian." my mother said politely. It appears to me that she was controlling her emotions, as she must have known that Damian was Bruce's son but I wasn't his mother. My birth father's love affairs are still fresh in memory for her, so I knew I might have to intervene if necessary. "I know that you are not my daughter's biological child, but I will still treat you as a grandchild of mine." Damian's olive eyes darted around as if he felt awkward but didn't know how to express it. "But you should tell us about yourself for us to know you better." my mother said, this time in a concerned tone. 

"I agree with Alice on that." my father said, breaking his silence. "As our grandchild we deserve to know things about you, a form of goodwill if you would."