Page 38 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

“I know you don’t care about me, Father. So, will you please get to the point of your visit? You sent Gerald down here to find me, and he managed to do that. I presume he told you when he did, and then you came down here.”

“Me and your mother,” said James. “We are at an inn not far from here, though it looks like you have a lot of space here, my dear.”

“You are not staying here, Father. Please get to the point.”

“If you are with his child, you can ask for money.”

“Ask for money?” repeated Margaret. “Why would I want to do that?”

“So you can repay me for my losses.”

“Losses? What are you talking about?” asked Margaret.

“I was due a windfall when you were to marry my cousin, but that is not going to happen now. And, he is not likely to invest in my business either, so you have cost me more than just a dowry. So, the best way for me to recoup my money is for the duke to pay for your hand in marriage.”

“And why would he pay for that if we are already married? He doesn’t need your permission. In fact, neither of us needs anything from you. You haven’t even congratulated me on being married, have you?”

“Oh, please,” said her father. “The apple does not fall far from the tree. We both know you did this for the money, and I commend you for that. Like father, like daughter.”

“How dare you,” said Margaret. “Do you want to know the real reason I did this? It was to get away from you and Mother! Just get out!”

“Well, let’s work out a deal for that. If you convince the duke to pay me what I am owed, which is only fair, then we will go home. If not, then we will have to maintain a vested interest in our grandchildren. That is only right, isn’t it?”

“Get out!” shouted Margaret. “Get out and don’t come back.”

“The Smuggler’s Rest. That’s where we are, so you know where to find us when you come to your senses.”

CHAPTER18

When Friends Are Your Real Family

“Parker, it is a pleasure to meet you,” said Margaret.

“The pleasure is all mine,” said Parker. He took her hand and kissed it gently. “So, you have been married for five weeks and you have not gotten sick of the man yet? How is that even possible?”

“Oh, I got sick of him a long time ago,” said Margaret. “But, I have a strong stomach, so I can put up with him better than most. You probably get sick of him, Parker, but you only have to see him for a few days at a time.”

“That is very true,” said Parker.

“You do know I am still in the room,” said Arthur. “I am right there beside you. Have I turned invisible again?”

“Oh, I wish,” said Parker. “No, actually, I don’t wish that. It would be just my luck that you would be invisible but I would still be able to hear you, and you would go on and on with your incessant nonsense for hours and hours.”

“So, Margaret, this is apparently my best friend in the world; meaning, I would not like you to meet any of my enemies,” said Arthur.

“Which he has a lot of. Like you, Margaret, I am made of stronger stuff, so I am able to put up with this man.”

“Should I bother to order us all drinks, or should I leave the room and let the two of you talk about me behind my back?” asked Arthur.

“No, we can talk about you to your face,” said Parker. “You just might not like it.”

“In my own house,” complained Arthur.

“Technically, it is her house too,” reminded Parker.

“And I am fine with how this evening is unfolding too. But, I will leave you soon. I will get to see more of you tomorrow, but it will be nice for the two of you to catch up first. Let me ask you one question first, Parker. Did Arthur really save your life?”

“I’d like to say that I saved his life that day. He was dead inside, but now he is a man of character. But, if you want to get technical, yes, the duke did save my life, and I am indebted to him.”

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