Page 29 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

"Drink?"

"A glass of brandy, please" he said. The sort of the discussion they are about to have, required a bracing drink.

The Viscount poured him a glass then carried them both to the table, handing him one, he retook his seat behind the desk.

Anthony waited until the man settled into his seat before speaking I believe you know the reason I am here."

"I imagine it has something to do with the scandal at yesterday's ball"

" Yes, I apologize for being party to your daughter's ruination "

" No need to apologize your grace. I only plead that you do right by her"

" Of course, I came here to ask for your daughter Victoria's hand in marriage. I realize that I previously came for the hand of your younger daughter in marriage. It is not well done of me, but the situation demands that I do the honorable thing"

" I am happy to give my daughter's hand in marriage to you. But," the man rearranged himself uncomfortably on the chair

" I do not have any dowry arranged for her since I never thought she would be married at such an age. I just concentrated on my much younger daughters".

It rubbed him the wrong way, that the Viscount placed so little value in his eldest daughter that he had not set money out for her dowry.

Most doting fathers he knew, believed their daughters were the best gems that ever existed no matter what. The fact that Victoria had a father who believed her undesirable simply because she had been unmarried for a long time did not speak well of the Viscount's character.

" I have no need for her dowry as you must be aware, I have the means to take care of my family" he answered stiffly.

" About that, " the man continued fanning the fires of annoyance within Anthony's chest

" I know I promised to give you my daughter Charity in marriage. I had hoped that you would support us financially in exchange. My estate is crumbling around my ears.

" Now that you are marrying Victoria. We would be doomed, she is the one who keeps the books. She has managed to keep us afloat this past few years. With her away we would surely starve.

At least give us something to keep meals on our table. You would not want your wife's family becoming beggars, would you?"

Anthony tried and failed to control his anger. He didn't know what infuriated him more, was it the fact that the lazy man had no qualms depending on his daughter to provide sustenance for the family or the fact that he believed he had the right to demand that he take over the financial burden of the family just because he wanted to marry his daughter.

Now that he thought about it, it was quite suspicious that the man had agreed to give his paragon of a daughter Charity, to him at first.

Because what sane father would give his young daughter out to the beastly duke who had rumors of violence surrounding him. Who would give his daughter out to such a man with no questions asked?

The answer was that only a greedy one who saw his daughters as meal tickets would do that.

He had heard whispers and rumors that Lord Wynten had an addiction to gambling. There have been rumors that he had lost a family house in Scotland on one of the gambling tables. He had waved such stories away but the man's behavior at the moment gave some credence to the stories.

How sure was he that the scandal was an accident? There was a possibility that Victoria had only seduced him according to her father's wishes simply to secure a wealthy suitor.

He hated to admit that the heated looks and loving concern and laughter in her eyes that he had fallen in love was an act. Unfortunately no matter how much he tried to shake the thought. It refused to leave, taking strong roots on his mind and gradually poisoning it with white hot rage.

"So this is all about money?" he asked in a voice that was surprisingly quiet.

The Viscount seemed to pick up the cold rage hidden in his tone. The man was apparently not completely a fool

"Of course not, I know Victoria likes you as well and you have a tendre for her. Everyone can see the calf eyed looks you exchange between yourselves.

"I never wanted the scandal to happen, but I think it is best, because it allows us to have what we all want. Don't you agree?" The man asked with a nervous smile revealing yellowing teeth.

Anthony felt his hands curl into fists as he fought not to plant a blow on the man's smiling face. It was just the greying hair on the man's head and his frail frame and hands that shook with tremors that stopped him.

The Viscount Wynten was not well, and he would not be the one to help him join the other side early.

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