Page 37 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

Victoria thought about it for a second. “She is not happy at all. She seems that way at first, but we have seen enough to know she has no happiness left in her heart. When she stays over here, she can often be heard crying in her room. The staff often talk about this family being cursed.”

“Cursed?” asked Margaret.

“It’s silly, I know. But they have so much in wealth, and not a lot in happiness. That is why it is so nice to have you around, Your Grace. Everyone has been saying it. With a duchess like you in the house, we all feel much happier.”

Victoria stopped talking and looked down at the ground, her face turning red.

“I will not tell anyone what you told me, Victoria. Thank you for being so honest with me.”

“I should go, Your Grace,” said Victoria, her face turning even redder. She curtsied and quickly left the room.

Margaret took another sip of the tea, enjoying the sweet flavors. She tried to work out what other flavors were mixed in, but she could not. She smiled at the thought of Victoria’s grandmother mixing up this special recipe, perhaps in a cauldron. Though, if she was the one who made the mixture, then she knew what was in it, and that would mean that she would not reap the health benefits.

There was a knock at the front door followed by the steps of the butler going to answer it. A moment after the door was opened, there came the sound of shouting and a commotion. Someone had come to the door angrily, and Margaret felt her heart dip as she recognized the voice.

The duke was not here to protect her this time, but she did have the loyalty of the staff. She took a deep breath and left the room, wandering along the hallway until she got to the main foyer. There, she found her father arguing with the butler and three other staff.

“What are you doing here?” asked Margaret, shocked to see him in the house.

Everyone stopped talking and looked her way.

“Margaret!” shouted her father. “Come with me now so we can sort this whole mess out.”

“No,” said Margaret in return. “I am not yours to do with what you please anymore, Father. I have my own life now.”

“Yes, I can see that,” he said, looking around. “Do you know how much trouble you have caused me?”

“Do you know how much trouble you have caused me?” asked Margaret.

“My dear, I only want to talk with you. Can I at least do that?”

Margaret sighed. “You can let him in,” she said. “I will take him in the sitting room.”

“Take him in the sitting room,” he murmured in return, a smile coming to his face as if it should be funny. “My own daughter treats me like I am beneath her.”

“Do you need anything, Your Grace?” asked the butler.

“No, thank you. Victoria already brought me some tea.”

“And for you, sir?”

“A whisky,” said James. “A double, and none of your cheap stuff.”

“Of course, sir,” said the butler.

Margaret rolled her eyes and let out another sigh. She led the way back to the sitting room where her tea was growing cold.

“How did you know where I was?” asked Margaret.

“Your letter,” said her father with a smile. “You forget that we have been friends with Cynthia’s parents for years. You didn’t say where you were, but the letter was stamped in York, so we figured that was as good a place as any to start. Well, for Gerald to start. You were to be his wife after all, but I don’t believe that will happen anymore, will it?”

“No, it will not. I am married and there is nothing you can do about it.”

“No, there is not. So, are you pregnant yet?”

“Why is everyone so concerned with whether or not I am pregnant?” asked Margaret.

“I might be a grandfather soon, and I would like to know about it. Do you think we don’t care about you, Margaret?”

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