Page 47 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

“Or keep a hold of this one,” suggested Parker.

“This one does not want to be kept a hold of. Even if we do have a child together, she does not see me as her husband, and I have no intention of having a wife.”

“Are you sure about that?” asked Parker.

“Look, can we just play cards? That is why you and Elspeth came over tonight, isn’t it?”

Parker hesitated for a moment before he relented. “Yes, it is. Come on, let’s see how well you have trained Margaret in how to play whist.”

“As long as she can keep up with Elspeth, we will have no problems destroying you, my friend.”

“Someone is confident tonight,” laughed Parker.

Arthur was confident—when it came to cards, at least. But he was not so confident anymore in his own ability to father a child. He did not know if the doctor would be able to help. The only reasonable conclusion was for him to try with another woman.

Was that the best solution? Arthur wondered if it were not just better for everyone for him to continue his life without a family. Would it really be so bad for the family name to end with him?

The two men made their way through to the card room. Margaret and Elspeth were there, deep in conversation with each other, and that conversation stopped as soon as the men entered.

“Please, do not stop on our account,” said Parker. “Unless you are talking about unpleasant women issues.”

“The most unpleasant,” responded Margaret with a smile. She looked over at Arthur and smiled at him too.

How he wished that he could give her a child instead of just wasting her time—she deserved better than the life she had been thrust into, even if it was better than the life she had been plucked from. That would be the thought that would guide him. Arthur would base his decision on what was best for Margaret.

“Shall we play?” asked Parker. “Arthur believes he and Margaret have the game already wrapped up and won.”

“Well, we shall have to prove them wrong,” said Elspeth.

“How was your time with Elspeth?” whispered Arthur when he reached Margaret.

“She is very nice,” said Margaret. “I hope that Parker holds onto her. Sometimes, you get a feeling about two people together.”

“Yes,” said Arthur as he took Margaret’s hand and led her to her seat at the table. He sat down on the opposite side, while Parker and Elspeth took up their positions.

Arthur dealt out the cards and picked his up. Before they could start playing the first round, Victoria entered with the drinks. Some single malt Scotch had been brought for the men, while wine had been brought for the women. There was also a small pot of tea on the tray.

Victoria placed the tray down on the small table to the side of the card table and hesitated for a moment.

“Your Grace,” she said, turning to Margaret. “I noticed that you did not have your tea this morning, so I brought some for you to have now with your wine.”

“Oh,” replied Margaret. “That is quite all right. I don’t need any tea today.”

“I will just leave it here for you,” insisted Victoria. “The tea is very good for your constitution.”

“She said that she did not want the tea,” said Arthur. “Please take it away, Victoria.”

Victoria was at a loss and looked over at Margaret, waiting for confirmation.

“You can take it away,” confirmed Margaret.

Still, Victoria stood there as if Margaret might change her mind.

“Take it away,” ordered Arthur.

“Of course, Your Grace,” said Victoria. She placed the teapot and cup back on the tray and left the room with a look of defeat.

“I have no idea what is going on with that woman,” said the duke. “I might have to rethink her role in this place.”

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