Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who's shown their support so far! I'm having more fun writing this than I anticipated... it's definitely different coming back to this storyline as an adult, invested in adult characters, rather than as a teenager mainly interested in writing the orphans adjusting to their new lives. Super looking forward to seeing where this story goes!
"Is she doing alright?"
Oliver nearly pounced on Grace the second she stepped out of Annie's bedroom that evening. Though he wanted to keep the girl within his sight for all the rest of time, Grace told him, and he had to agree, that it was best if she handle bedtime, because ultimately she was the one who Annie probably felt most comfortable opening up to. He prayed they already knew everything that had happened. However, if there was something else, if the Hannigans had done anything more, it was Grace that Annie would confide in.
This was why his heart finally seemed to relax when she gave him a small smile, pulling the door shut with a finger over her lips. Stepping away from it, he followed, and she reached out to touch his shoulder.
"None the worse for wear," she promised, nodding. "I had quite a time getting her to settle down, but I think the most pressing matter we'll have to deal with in the morning is making sure we have that paper ready for her."
He laughed, something that felt so good after the evening they'd had. "Good Lord," he rubbed his forehead. "She's not hurt at all?"
"Shaken up, that's the worst of it," her eyes softened. "Are you doing alright, sir?"
His head snapped up at once, surprised, though he supposed he shouldn't have been, by the professional address. He knew his own thoughts about their relationship were changing—he also knew that didn't necessarily translate to her automatically knowing. "Oliver," he corrected. "I told you the other day, please, call me Oliver."
Her eyes softened more. "Oliver," she echoed.
"I think I'll be alright," he said, a shuddery breath escaping him. "It was… well, I know I don't have to tell you how terrifying it was. I'll be alright." He met her gaze. "How are you?"
She shook her head. "I'm okay," she promised. "I'll be much better after I've slept, though I suppose I won't be getting much in. Her friends will be up early, I'm sure—they'll want to know she's safe."
"I can have Mrs. Pugh and Mrs. Greer take over for the morning." He nodded. "You should take off until noon, in fact. Sleep in. Perhaps go and grab yourself brunch somewhere."
"Oh, I—I couldn't. I wouldn't feel right, leaving Mrs. Pugh and Mrs. Greer here with them alone." She stepped further down the hall, towards where her quarters were. "I'm really glad, Oliver, that she's home now. I'm really glad you're able to move forward with the adoption."
"I, uh," he cleared his throat. "I wanted to speak with you about that, actually."
She stopped, turning with an eyebrow raised. "Oh?"
"Well, it's just—well, she's going to need a maternal figure, won't she? I care for her so much, but being a man…there's only so much I'm capable of. Lord knows I won't know the first thing to do as she gets older. I just—you two have such a close connection already, so I was thinking—and she'd be so thrilled, if everything was official."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "Oliver?"
"Marriage," he blurted out, his face growing hot. Surely, this was the most unorthodox proposal of all time. At the very least, it was for someone who actually had feelings for the person they were to be betrothed to. Why he was leading with Annie needing a mother, he had no idea, but the ability to tell Grace how he felt seemed to have been stripped of him. "I'm—I'm asking for your hand in marriage, Grace. Annie needs to have a stable home, and you—well, you're the most stable person I know. And, yes, you and I—well, I'm your employer, there are surely society folk who will say it's improper. But I don't care about that. I'd," he sighed. "I'd like very much to have you be my partner, Grace, if you are willing."
She stood back, shock crossing her face, in a way that once again made his heart sank. He'd done it, hadn't he? This was no way to win someone. Even he knew that, and he'd been alone most his life.
"Oliver," she started, voice notably smaller than before. "Oliver, I'm—"
"I know this is a lot for me to ask," he interjected. "You probably need some time. But I… well, I just—" He rubbed his hand down the length of his face. "It's occurring to me, Grace, just how much I rely on you. Your opinion matters a great deal to me. I can't imagine raising Annie into the person I want her to be if you weren't involved. And I… you…"
She kept her gaze locked with him, as though willing him to just get it out.
"I've been foolish for years, Grace," he shook his head. "You've been here all this time, willing to love me even though heaven knows I don't deserve it. You've defended me when nobody else would. I—I am a better person because of you, and I'm only going to be a good parent because of you. And I'd… I can't imagine starting this next chapter without you being an integral part of it. I don't want you as my employee anymore; the truth is, you were never just an employee. You're my…" he felt a lump in his throat. "My family, Grace. And I want to make it as official as I possibly can."
Tears were in her eyes now, and for half a second, he panicked that this was sign he'd continued to fumble with what he was supposed to say. Starting to wrack his brain, figuring out how he could smooth it over, he was surprised when she came forward, cupping her hands around his cheeks.
"Oliver," she whispered, stroking her fingers against his skin. "I'd be honored."
He stared at her. "You would?" he asked, afraid to let his voice become too prominent. "You—you?"
"Yes. Me." She laughed, pressing her lips against his softly. "You're quite adorable when you get flustered. The newspapers wouldn't believe it. Oliver Warbucks, intimidated by a marriage proposal."
He laughed, too. "There's no ring," he said, apologetically. "I—I didn't expect—"
"We can shop sometime later," she promised, continuing to stroke his cheek. "We should take Annie with us. Have her help pick it out."
"Dear Lord," he laughed again. "Annie. She's—she's never going to believe it."
"I hardly can, myself," she pulled away, staring down at her jewelry-free palm. "Mrs. Warbucks. I rather like the sound of that."
"It was a name made for you," he felt tears welling in his own eyes. "Come. Come back to my quarters. I don't want to wish you goodnight, ever again, unless it's before we turn off our bedside lamps."
She snapped her head up, surprised by the suggestion. "I couldn't, Oliver. That's improper."
"How so? We're engaged now. There's certainly nothing wrong with a couple sharing the same quarters."
"Nobody else in this entire house knows we're a couple," she shook her head. "Imagine if the maids come to wake you in the morning. How would it look, your secretary in bed with you? The story would break before I was able to get dressed."
"And I would sue for defamation, and make sure whoever it was that broke it never works another day in their life," he laughed. "Whatever it is that they say, I don't care, Grace. I've been called much worse than anything they could come up with now, believe me. This is right—for you, for me, for Annie. What does it matter what high society regards as 'proper?'"
She pursed her lips together. "I'll have to start going to galas with you as your wife, you do realize that. The galas mean mingling. And what about when Annie goes off to school? There'll be parent evenings, who knows what else? They'll look down on me for engaging in this relationship, and what if they prevent Annie from making friends?"
"That's petty. Women can't be that illogical, can they?"
"They're worse," she sighed. "I want to come back to your quarters, believe me, I do. But I want this done properly. We need to make a statement so they know I was no longer your secretary when this began. We need to get rid of any chance of them making this into a spectacle."
He sighed. "You're quite sure?" he asked. "I can send a note and ensure no maids come near my quarters."
"And then it'll look like I'm sneaking like a schoolgirl out of your room," she smoothed her hand over his cheek once more. "I'll see you in the morning. We can tell Annie, together, then make a statement. Then, perhaps we can go ring shopping."
"I do like the sound of that," he sighed, nodding as he tilted her chin upwards to kiss her. "I'll see you in the morning, darling. Sleep well."
"You, too," she cupped her hands around his cheek. "I love you, Oliver."
"And I, you," he nodded. "May I at least walk you to your quarters?"
She smiled a little, holding her arm out to him. "I'd quite like that."
He smiled, as well, curling his hand around her arm. Together, they made slow footsteps down the hall, making sure to stay quiet until they arrived just outside Grace's door. She turned to him, again, and kissed him, softly, but leaning in deeper after a second.
"Goodnight, Mr. Warbucks," she whispered, a sultry tone in her voice. "Until we meet again."
She didn't even wait for an answer before she disappeared inside the quarters. Opening it, stepping inside, and shutting and locking the door, she was gone, while Oliver just stood, his legs starting to feel like jelly.
A fool for years, indeed.
He'd no idea a woman could kiss so well.
He was up a mere three hours later, the sun coming in and no part of him intending to waste any daylight away from the two people who mattered most to him. Annie, he hoped, would remain restful for a few hours still. If he knew anything about Grace, however, it was that she'd be down at the table already, so he rushed through getting dressed so he could meet her. Sure enough, she and Mrs. Pugh were both in the dining room when he made an appearance, both drinking their morning coffees. Grace looked up at once, standing and smoothing her hand over the peach dress she'd put on.
"Mr. Warbucks," she said, glancing at Mrs. Pugh as though to tell him why she wasn't being more affectionate. "You're up early."
"Well, how else would I catch the worm?" he chuckled. "What is your excuse, Miss Farrell?"
"Mrs. Pugh's coffee always tastes best fresh out of the pot," she lifted her mug, winking at him. "Can I fix you a cup?"
"Heavens, you two are horrible at being discrete," Mrs. Pugh also stood now, clicking her tongue as she shook her head. "Forgive me for being so direct, Mr. Warbucks, but just kiss her already. Don't think we haven't seen this budding for ages—even Drake's noticed, and you know how oblivious he tends to be."
Oliver laughed, taken aback, though he wasn't sure why. Mrs. Pugh was the most observant member of his staff—even more so than Grace himself. "I appreciate your discretion, Mrs. Pugh," he said, crossing over to Grace and wrapping an arm around her waist. "We plan to make the news public before day's end. I assure you, we will stop our acting once we do."
"I sure hope so," Mrs. Pugh shook her head. "Now, I'll be honest—my breakfast this morning is not going to be as extravagant as I wish it could. We've been running low on eggs, and I do wish to save them for those little girls we have sleeping over. I'm happy to make some oatmeal, but if I may give you a suggestion?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Mrs. Pugh?"
"Go out and have some time for just the two of you, for heaven's sake," she shook her head at both of them. "There's that lovely breakfast place in Midtown. There won't be many spectators this time of day. You two go and get out those new-couple jitters. I'll make sure to work my magic with the girls so they don't suspect anything."
He looked at Grace at once, the idea sounding lovely in more sense than one. Clearly, she felt the same way if the smile on her lips said anything, and he grabbed onto her hand.
"I appreciate you again, Mrs. Pugh," he said as he started leading Grace towards the back exit. "Can we bring you anything to show our gratitude?"
"More eggs!" She shook her head, and he laughed, nodding before he and Grace made their way out of the dining room. Once they were out of sight, he stopped her, suddenly, pressing her up against a wall and kissing her.
"Good morning, Miss Farrell," he then whispered, smiling as he tucked some hair behind her ear. "Thank heaven we met again."