Page 64 of Taken By the Broken Duke
“Icanand Iwill,” Horatio said, his voice firmer than his knees.
“It will destroy you!” Lady Margaret cried out in a voice fraught with panic.
“So be it,” Horatio muttered, “I care not.”
“But you must!” Frances almost screamed, “The ton will talk of nothing else. The Templeton name will be in disgrace for years. Marry me and all will be well!”
“No,” Horatio said, calmly. “I will marry your cousin and all will be well or not. I do not care. Now, all of you. Get out!”
This last was shouted and Frances jumped, whimpering with fright. Lady Margaret dropped her tea cup. Ainsworth stood frozen to the spot.
“I am the master of this house. And I want you all to leave!” Horatio bellowed.
He strode across the room, praying that his strength would not choose that moment to leave him, and then tugged on the nearest bellpull.
“Where is Jackton!” Lady Margaret shrieked at Ainsworth.
“He is acquiring more of the drug...” Ainsworth barked back, or at least began to. Then he looked at Horatio who was watching the exchange with interest.Drug,not medicine.
“Don't stop, dear Matthew. What drug does the good doctor need to acquire more of?”
“I meant yourmedicine,” Ainsworth said hurriedly, “he has gone into town to visit an apothecary and acquire more of the medicine on which you rely.”
“Don't listen to him, Horatio. Or to my mother!” Frances cried, leaping to her feet, and grabbing Horatio's hand. Ortryingto. He pulled his hand from her grasp and she fell to her knees before him.
“They are drugging you. Doctor Jackton was paid by Reverend Ainsworth to do so! They plan to keep you weak so that they can force you to do as they wish. I was their pawn. They have used me too.”
“Be silent!” Ainsworth roared and strode forward, then slapped Frances across the face.
Horatio reacted instinctively. He lashed out with his cane, catching Ainsworth across the temple. The reverend fell back, one hand going to his mouth. Lady Margaret screamed. Ainsworth was quick to get back to his feet and he advanced on Horatio with fists clenched. Horatio stood his ground, casting the cane aside.
“Showing your true colors now, aren’t you,Reverend Ainsworth,” Horatio smirked triumphantly.
“He wanted to gain control of your business interests. Those papers would give him that control had you signed them,” Frances mumbled, eyes spitting venom toward Ainsworth.
Horatio could not puzzle out why Frances was suddenly turning against those she had conspired with. What did she stand to gain from it? Could it be that she had decided to do what was right, regardless of the consequences to herself? Was Frances a better person than Horatio had supposed?
He glanced at the papers, then at Ainsworth, whose face had darkened to puce. A door flew open and two footmen burst in, clearly hearing the scream and sounds of a struggle.
“These people are no longer welcome in my house,” Horatio snarled. “See that they leave and that any belongings they leave behind are sent on after them. But they are to leave now!”
Ainsworth gave a distinctly un-clerical growl and lunged for Horatio. But a footman was quicker. Looking scandalized at the need to do it, he seized Ainsworth from behind and began tobodily drag him from the room. The other calmly stood before Lady Margaret and politely gestured towards the door. Frances crawled to Horatio, tears running down her cheeks.
“Your Grace! I am loyal to you! Please do not send me away!”
Horatio looked at her with compassion. Atfirst. As he looked at Lady Margaret, he caught a glance that passed between mother and daughter. Frances had looked from beneath lowered lids, turning her face away from Horatio to conceal it. Her hair had fallen forward, providing a further screen. But Lady Margaret’s glance was one of approval. There was the ghost of a smile, quickly morphing into tight-lipped anger when she realized that Horatio was observing her. The slightest hint of a nod. Telling Frances that her strategy was the correct one. Horatio seethed and stepped away from Frances.
“Where is Mr. Hall?” he asked the footman who was watching Lady Margaret try to make a dignified exit.
“In his room, Your Grace. Under the weather, I'm afraid. Glad to see Your Grace is feeling better though.”
Horatio nodded sharply and strode from the room as quickly as he could.
“We will bury you and your rotten, stinking family name! The scandal will be spoken of for generations!” Frances cried with sudden savagery, “You will regret rejecting me. And so will Juliet!”
There was another slap.
This time, it was Lady Margaret, standing over her daughter with a face pale with anger. Horatio glanced back from one to the other. He experienced two emotions, the satisfaction of victory and the fear of what might be awaiting Juliet.
