"Stealing Cinderella" was never meant to be more than a one-shot. Until the reviews became more persistent that I do another chapter... so this is the response... I hope you like it.

Bertie Pelham was nervous... and having trouble tieing his tie straight. His daughter, Marigold was getting married today. He approved of her future husband and knew that they made a good match, but it almost felt as if he was letting someone steal her away. He honestly felt like the father in the story "Cinderella" for his daughter had risen above the ashes of a rough start to become a charming, gorgeous young lady. When James had asked his permission to marry her, he had to say "yes".

Night of the Engagement dinner

"Earl, I wonder if I might have a few words with you," Bertie asked Robert nervously.

"Please, you are going to be family now, call me Robert," Robert insisted as he and Bertie walked toward a quiet corner of the room.

"I know that everything is official, but I wanted to make sure this engagement had your seal of approval," Bertie said nervously- wrapping his hands around each other in a nervous sort of fashion.

"It certainly does. I couldn't have asked for a better match for my Edith. She has risen above the ashes in her life, and has found true happiness at last," Robert said. "Even when you were just an agent, you had my approval. I saw the way you treated her, the way you treated Cora, and knew you would honor her the rest of her life. I couldn't ask for more."

Bertie smiled and reached out and to shake Robert's hand. Robert surprised him immensely by pulling him into a hug. After the hug, Bertie asked him "What did you say to mother at dinner? After the first toast, I could feel her disproval..."

Robert smiled and said, "If you know our family history, you would know that I didn't approve of Sybil marrying Tom. I almost lost her as a daughter when I refused to approve. It took more time than your mom, but I finally came around. After she passed, it was the only sort of reconcillation that I could make with myself that she knew I approved of her and Tom... I only let your mother know the same thing could happen to her today," Robert said with a wistful smile at the mention of his baby girl.

"Thank you so much... I only hope I can continue to meet your expectations as a future son-in-law," Bertie said softly. Robert smiled and said, "Keep doing what you're doing and you will meet them as you have already done so."

With that, the parents said their good nights. Edith and Bertie stayed downstairs to cuddle on the sofa and enjoy being officially engaged for the first time.

"What are you thinking about?" Edith said as she sidled up to him. She was wearing a gorgeous navy evening gown.

"The night our engagement became official... a conversation I had with your Father... something that he said stuck and it's the reason why I bought the book for Marigold... the one she loves so much..." Bertie said as he finally relented and allowed his wife to tie his tie.

"What did he say? You always kept that conversation as something between the two of you..." Edith asked still sounding very much like the reporter she was on the inside.

"The only thing that I will tell you was that he said you had risen from the ashes much like Cinderella does in the book," Bertie said smoothly. "Now, it's my turn to walk to allow our Cinderella to meet her Prince Charming..."

Hope you don't mind this sweet one-shot to add to it... I'm a romantic at heart, and I can very easily see Bertie asking Robert for permission to marry Edith...