Page 47 of My Blind Duke
She had extended the invitation to him without much expectation, so it was truly surprising that he had not only decided to accept, but he also intended to stay for a while, if his lingering presence was anything to go by.
“What are you making?” he asked Melanie quietly, leaning toward her.
“Paper cranes. We made paper butterflies earlier,” she whispered back, grinning excitedly.
“Is it fun?”
“Ah… it is a little hard sometimes. But they turn out really pretty if we are careful.”
William hummed thoughtfully for a moment then he asked, “Could you make me one?”
Melanie perked up immediately. “Would you like only one? I can make you more! Many, many more!”
Obviously endeared, Prudence giggled, only to hear William chuckling as well. They both fell silent and Prudence cleared her throat, looking down at her own work… which she had ruined without realizing.
“As many as you want. Whatever you want,” William assured her gently.
“Are you sure? What if you think they are too messy later and you wish to get rid of them?” Melanie pouted, showing just how often she overthought about things.
William looked uncomfortable and conflicted, as though he wanted to console her but was not sure how to do that. Prudence sighed at the sight of the two of them, realizing that they needed as much guidance as they could get to make any progress in their relationship.
“We will put them all in a glass bowl and set it on a table in his study. That way, they will serve as a pretty decoration, and they will not be all over the place to be seen as messy,” she suggested softly.
The faces of both father and daughter lit up and Prudence felt her heart tremble at the sight, recognizing just how alike they looked.
“That is a great idea. Still, I would not mind keeping one or two on my desk,” William told Melanie.
The girl still looked uncertain and when she glanced at Prudence, the duchess assured her it would be fine.
“All right! I will make them for you,” Melanie agreed with bright pink cheeks.
“Thank you,” William said, sounding the most earnest Prudence had heard him. “Do you need any help?”
Prudence shifted her gaze to him, her heart sinking as she wondered how he felt, knowing that there was little he could do but still wanting to assist his daughter any way he could.
“Yes, actually,” Melanie asked. “What is your favorite color?”
William blinked. “My favorite color?”
“Yes. I want to make butterflies that are only in Papa’s favorite colors. So, you will like them even more,” Melanie declared.
William’s expression softened indescribably and he sighed.
“My favorite color is red. But I would like it if you added your favorite colors as well.”
Melanie nodded eagerly and reached for the colored pieces of paper, picking a red one from the slightly disorganized stack. She began to fold it, nose scrunched in frustration as she worked carefully, then she paused and looked up at her father.
“I might need to borrow your hand.”
“My… my hand?” William echoed, turning to Prudence.
“I need to hold down certain folds, and it is a little hard for me to do myself sometimes. I would appreciate your help,” Melanie said sweetly.
William swallowed and nodded, looking a little nervous when he responded, “Sure. Whatever you want.”
The rest of the afternoon passed like that, with them spending time in the garden as the paper was folded over and over again. Melanie seemed to be under the impression she would never see her father again and was determined to make up for lost time, as well as working to make the time he had dedicated to her feel worth his while.
But William seemed intent on leaving a lasting impression, speaking kindly and gently to Melanie and offering his hand whenever she needed a flap of paper to be held. He was obedient and soft in ways Prudence never thought she would get to see and it warmed her heart.
