Page 13 of Legacy of Succession

“She’s not worth anything more. I’m out.” Earl Winters accepts defeat, and the hammer comes down on Daphne Knight. I can’t help feeling a little sick. If my father has anything to do with this purchase, then the girl wrapped tightly around my arm has little time left to live. There’s nothing I can do, though. I hand her over to West and go to the next girl.

Lady Joanna Nethercutt was a difficult one to give up. If Victoria hadn’t intrigued me as much as she did, then I would have chosen Joanna. She’s the prettier of the two. All I can do is pray that McGuire has learned his lesson and won’t try to bid on this one.

My father gives the same speech about the girl again. This one is again highly educated and enjoys reading. She’s also an avid motor car fan. I picture her laid out over my Ferrari. It would be a damn good sight.

“What shall we start at?”

“Two hundred.” Earl Winters puts his hand up again.

“Three hundred,” Laird McGuire replies, and I groan.

“Four.” Viscount Mayfield steps through the crowd. Victoria gasps when she sees her father.

“Five,” McGuire offers.

“Six,” Winters adds.

Victoria is shaking her head. She has tears in her eyes, now. Mayfield bidding isn’t something I’d expected. I know his wife came from my father’s ‘not chosen’ girls. I wonder if he’s continuing the tradition.

“Seven.” He stands in the center of the room with his arms folded.

“Wit that frizzy hair I’m no paying any more. Ye can have her.” McGuire gets up and stomps from the room.

“Eight.” Earl Winters comes forward to stand next to my father.

I’m on edge as to where this is going.

“One million,” Mayfield responds.

Earl Winter’s shakes his head in defeat.

“Sold to Viscount Mayfield,” my father shouts out.

Victoria gets to her feet and is running toward her father before the guards can stop her. She pulls her fist back and punches him square in the jaw.

Joanna, who has been standing quietly until this moment, screams and falls to her knees. She fears the worse.

I jump down from the stage and pull Victoria off her father. She’s swearing and shouting at him still.

“You bastard, how could you? I hate you. I want you fucking dead. If you hurt Theo, I’ll hunt you down and kill you myself.” She’s struggling in my arms. She doesn’t even realize I’m holding her. All she wants to do is scratch her father’s eyes out. She makes some ground when my dress shoes slip on the floor. I regain my footing just as she goes to pull another punch.

“Stop it,” my father shouts, but she doesn’t listen. Two other guards pull her away from me and flatten her to the ground. She’s trying to kick out, but they use their weight to keep her in place.

“Viscount Mayfield, take your purchase and go,” my father orders.

Victoria’s father looks down at where she’s being manhandled on the floor. I don’t know about his daughter wanting to punch his lights out, but I’m struggling to keep the lid on my composure. My fists are balled, but I’m not moving. I can’t.

He shakes his head.

“I thought she was brought up better than this, Your Grace. I’m embarrassed. Punish her as you see fit.” I’m walking closer to Mayfield when he speaks. I have my hands on the collar of his shirt, and I’m dragging him away.

“The Duke said leave,” I order with spit flying into his face.

“Theo,” Victoria screams from the floor.

“When she regains her composure, tell her that I’ll never hurt my son. Lady Joanna is to be his wife. It’s a family tradition — for the procreation of the next generation.”

“Get out!” I’m inches from the Viscount’s face. I have no further words for this man. He disgusts me. Violence is the only way that I can express what I feel.

---