Chapter 25

William knew that they were all staring at him. It would have been a futile exercise to even try and convince himself otherwise.

He had put on some clothes in which he felt best, not his Sunday best. He wanted to fit in, although he was aware of how odd that sounded. He had been doing everything in his power to keep away from the public, and now, he was doing exactly the opposite, and all because of Rose.

He strode through the bustling market, the cacophony of vendors hawking their wares and the chatter of townsfolk forming a lively backdrop. He kept his head high, though he could feel the curious and sometimes, suspicious gazes of those around him. He had expected this, of course, but that didn't make it any easier.

The market was a vibrant array of colors and smells: freshly baked bread, ripe fruits, flowers in full bloom. It was a stark contrast to the somber halls of his manor. Yet, despite the pleasant surroundings, he felt the weight of every stare. People whispered as he passed, their words indistinct but their tone unmistakable. They were all stunned by the sight of him, the enigma of the haughty nobleman who had been to blame for all of their hardships.

But William was determined. He had promised Rose he would try to step out of his comfort zone, to be among the people, to show that he was more than the monstrous duke they thought him to be. He kept his focus on his goal, moving towards a flower stall. He knew that Rose would be coming soon, and he didn't want to appear before her empty-handed. It was a small gesture, but he wanted to bring her something beautiful, something that reminded him of her.

He headed towards the stall in a determined stride, and as he approached it, the flower vendor, a plump woman with a warm smile, looked up at him in surprise.

"Uhm… good day," he said with a polite nod.

"Your Grace," she recognized him immediately, although he had no doubt it would be so. Strangely enough, there was no hostility in her voice, only curiosity. "How may I help you today?"

"I was uhm… hoping to purchase a bouquet. Something… special."

Her eyes sparkled even more with inquisitiveness, but she didn't ask further. She simply nodded. "Might I suggest a lovely bouquet of roses, lilies and a few sprigs of lavender?"

"Yes, please," he nodded. "Those would be splendid."

She set up on gathering the bouquet with skillful fingers, finishing it within a minute. He took it into his hands, the delicate scent of the flowers mingling with the market's earthy aroma. "Thank you," he said, handing her a few coins, which were more than enough to cover the expense of the bouquet.

"Wait, I shall have your change for you within a moment," she said, but he shook his head.

"No, that is fine, madam," he smiled.

She smiled back. "Thank you, Your Grace."

As he waved a little awkwardly in goodbye, he turned around and started to walk in the opposite direction, when suddenly, he caught sight of a familiar face. Henry was alone, without Rose, walking straight towards William. William inhaled deeply, wondering what sort of conversation would follow. He was prepared for anything. For Rose, he had to be.

"Your Grace," Henry approached him respectfully, bowing his head. William could immediately sense that there was no antagonism in the boy's gesture. "May I walk with you?"

"Of course, Henry," William nodded, slightly caught off guard by Henry's behavior.

As the two men continued their walk with all eyes still on them, neither of them seemed to mind. Henry was the first one to break the silence. "I… I would like to apologize for everything, Your Grace."

William turned to him, as they locked gazes. He could see genuine regret in the boy's eyes, and he knew that the apology truly came from the heart. Henry seemed as if he had more to say, so William gave him enough time to gather his thoughts, without being urged to do so.

"They were all just silly games at first," Henry continued. "It was nothing but mere talk how we would do this or that, but I never thought we would actually do anything. Then… things got more and more serious. They kept reminding me of what you did, how you made so many people unemployed, stealing their livelihood in the process, making them feel worthless, as if they could not take care of their own families."

William had to interfere there. "I never thought about that," he admitted. "I never knew what far-reaching consequences my actions would have. All I wanted was to lock myself up in my mansion, and not see anyone around."

"I know that now," Henry nodded, as they continued to stroll. "But before, I didn't, and I was angry. I was so angry for my uncle, for my friends' families. Then, I was scared that Rose would get hurt… I should have known better than to allow them to cloud my judgment. I should have just walked away."

"Anger is a difficult thing to walk away from," William acknowledged wisely. He could see the appreciation in Henry's eyes.

"The things we did to you were wrong," Henry admitted apologetically. "And I know that no apology could ever make up for what we have done to you."

"You're wrong," William smiled. "An apology is a precious thing. Not everyone is brave enough to offer it."

Henry smiled back, reaching into his pocket. A moment later, he extracted a pendant, one that William immediately recognized. He shivered at the memory, but he reminded himself that it was all over.

"I took it from the other boy, the one who knocked you out that day," Henry revealed. "I… I fought him for it."

"You… did?" William asked with a trembling voice, as Henry offered him the pendant.

"Yes," Henry nodded. "Mr. Trent had given it to him, as part of his payment… for the trouble, he said. None of us knew that Mr. Trent wanted to kill Rose, we were all shocked to find out. We… we just thought that he wanted to scare you. And I want you to know that I am no longer friends with any of them. Please, just take it, I don't think that any of us should keep anything from that man. We should not be rewarded for what we have done."

William smiled even more at the young man's words. He could see that Henry had truly learned his lesson, and that was more valuable than any scolding William or anyone else for that matter, could give him. Gently, he curled Henry's fingers around the pendant.

"Sell it," he urged. "You helped me in the end, and I understand why you did what you did. I understand that anger at the world, at life. I understand it more than you think, Henry. Sell it and give the money to your aunt, I know that she needs it. Let something good come out of all this."

Henry nodded, pocketing the pendant once again. He looked relieved that William had accepted his apology. "Thank you, Your Grace," Henry replied.

William patted him on the shoulder. "You are a good lad with a good head on your shoulders, Henry. Never let someone else think for you."

"Never again," Henry promised, then he ran in the direction of one of the stalls, where he proceeded to show the vendor the pendant.

William nodded in a satisfied manner, then he continued to stroll through the market. He stopped at various stalls, making small purchases—some fresh bread here, a few apples there. Each transaction was an exercise in facing the curious and sometimes skeptical glances of the townspeople. He smiled politely, making a conscious effort not to retreat into himself.

As he wandered, his thoughts turned to the practical matters that needed addressing at the estate, particularly the barn that had been damaged during the recent storm. He knew he needed skilled workmen to rebuild it, and now seemed as good a time as any to inquire.

He approached a group of men standing near a blacksmith's stall, their muscular arms and weathered faces suggesting they were laborers. "Good day, gentlemen," William greeted them, nodding respectfully.

The men looked up, clearly surprised to see the duke addressing them directly. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, stepped forward. "Good day, Your Grace. How can we assist you?"

"I'm looking for skilled workmen to help rebuild a barn on my estate," William said. "Do you know of anyone who might be available for the task?"

The bearded man exchanged glances with his companions before nodding. "Aye, we've got a few lads who'd be more than capable. We'll need to take a look at the site first, of course."

"Of course," William agreed. "When would be a convenient time for you to come by?"

The man scratched his chin thoughtfully. "We could come by tomorrow morning, if that suits you, Your Grace."

"Tomorrow morning it is," William confirmed. He quickly provided directions to his estate, not that any of them needed it, and thanked the men before moving on.

William felt a wave of relief wash over him as he spotted Rose approaching through the bustling market. She was accompanied by a middle-aged woman who, he guessed, might be her aunt. As they drew nearer, Rose's face lit up with a smile, which eased the tension in his shoulders.

"Your Grace," Rose greeted him warmly. "I'd like you to meet my aunt, Cora Roberts."

Rose's Aunt Cora gave him a respectful curtsy, a friendly smile on her face. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Grace."

"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Roberts," he replied. "You have raised an exceptional young lady."

"Why, thank you, Your Grace," she beamed back at him. Her smile widened, as she studied William for a moment. Then, with a knowing look, she turned to Rose. "Now, I understand why you spent so many hours up at the manor. It all makes sense now."

Rose's cheeks flushed, and she looked as if she wanted the ground to swallow her up. "Aunt Cora, please..."

William chuckled, sensing Rose's discomfort but also appreciating the warmth in her aunt's demeanor. "Mrs. Roberts, I assure you, Rose has been a tremendous help at the manor. Her presence is always most welcome."

Aunt Cora patted Rose's arm affectionately. "I have no doubt about that, Your Grace. Rose has always had a way of making herself indispensable."

Rose gave a shy smile, glancing between her aunt and William. "Shall we walk for a bit? I'd love to show you some of my favorite stalls."

"Of course," William agreed, offering his arm. "Mrs. Roberts, I hope you will join us?"

"I would love to, Your Grace," Aunt Cora nodded with a smile.

They continued to stroll through the market together. The tension of the earlier encounter faded, replaced by the comfort of each other's company. William couldn't help but feel grateful for Aunt Cora's friendly reception and the chance to spend time with Rose outside the confines of the manor.