A LITTLE TWIST OF FATE

Chapter 25

Henry knew exactly what she was going to tell him. He knew that she was engaged already, he had overheard Alex's proposal. It was something that he didn't want to be reminded of. He changed the subject.

"Tell me about this place, Danielle," he said. "I've heard plenty of rumors about your father and my family. I'd like to know if any of them are true."

Danielle looked at him a little confused. "Henry, you already know about."

Henry shook his head. "I've heard little bits and pieces, I've never heard the entire story."

Danielle sighed. She stood up and looked around the little room. Her eyes rested on the mantle and the tiny fireplace where she would cry herself to sleep every night right after her father's passing.

"You know that Papa wasn't a Baron by birth, don't you?" she began. "Your grandfather gave him that title."

"Yes," Henry nodded. "I know that much. My uncle Phillippe and your father were best friends. That's why the manor is in dispute right now. Vivienne thins that it belongs to her and will do anything to get her hands on it. The chateau will be hers once you marry her son. Danielle."

Danielle stared at him. "How do you know that I am engaged to marry her son?"

Henry looked at her, then down at his feet and shook his head. "I overheard the two of you talking yesterday, on the way over to Thérèse's chateau."

He looked up at her; his eyes locking onto hers, waiting for an answer, but Danielle was speechless.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

Danielle frowned. "Were you going to tell ever going to tell me?"

"Yes, I was on my way over there to explain."

"Explain what, Henry?"

"That I was wrong about ignoring all this time? I realized how much I needed you and loved you."

He stood up and walked over to her. "I know you're not a servant, I know that you never were, but I guess I just let the gossip and my father run my life. I don't want that anymore, Danielle. I want to be with you the rest of my life, be a father to your children and grow to old age. Is that so wrong?"

Danielle shook her head. "Of course not, Henry. I've always loved you too, you know that."

Henry looked at her. "Not really, not after I heard the conversation between you and Alex."

Danielle looked at him. "How do you know so much, Henry? What do you do, follow me around?"

Henry looked at her, silent, not really sure what he should say or how to say it.

After a while he nodded his head.

"Yes, Danielle, I have been. I'm not proud of what I did. I just needed to see you, to be with you."

"So you'd sneak out every chance you'd get so your father wouldn't know where you were going."

"I know that I was wrong, Danielle and I ask for your forgiveness. I want to make it up to you, if you will let me."

"I'm not positive right now, Henry, I'll have to think about it." Danielle lied. "I'll have to talk to Alex first and let you know."

Henry hung his head. "I thought that you would understand why.."

"There are a lot of things I need to think about, Henry. I'm sorry. I will let you know as soon as I know. Now if you'll excuse me."

She ran out of the greenhouse and headed toward the manor, leaving her shoes. Henry picked them up and held them in his hand.

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