Page 80 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

“For a fool, yes,” announced Arthur. “But,Iam a man of my word unlike some around here.”

“You call me names?” asked James, anger coming to his cheeks.

“I do because you deserve it. I am sure your friend”—he gestured to Gerald—“calls you much worse. Now, my offer is clear. And, I have brought the money to back it up. You only need to decide whether or not you will take his money or mine.”

Arthur produced the large pouch from inside his jacket and handed it over to James. The man looked inside, and his eyes widened. Eleanor quickly grabbed the pouch from her husband and looked inside too, carefully fingering the notes and coins.

“It must be thrice as much,” she gasped.

“It is yours for the release of Margaret,” said Arthur, grabbing the pouch back.

Eleanor reached out after it as if it were a mirage that would dissipate in front of her eyes. The husband and wife were almost drooling over the money.

“You made a deal with me,” stated Gerald.

“Yes, but you have reneged on deals in the past when it has suited you,” reminded Gerald. “It is a sum substantially more.”

“Then I will up my offer.”

“As, you already said, Gerald. Is it not better to have the money on offer than take the risk of having more. Besides, I don’t believe you can offer us this much if you scraped everything together.”

“You owe me,” snapped Gerald.

For a moment, Arthur was worried that the man was going to draw the gun, but he did not.

“Oh, we don’t owe you anything,” snapped James back. “You wanted a young compliant wife, and our daughter is not that, so you are saving yourself. You will find someone else to buy a wife from. And, we need the money, so I see this as a win all around. Lucy!”

It was a moment before the maid appeared at the door.

“Lucy, unlock the door and bring Margaret here,” ordered James.

“Yes, sir,” said Lucy, glancing quickly at the duke.

Arthur realized that it was the maid who had smuggled out the letter. He calmed his breathing and heartbeat and waited side by side with his friend for Margaret to appear. A minute later, Margaret ran towards him and almost bundled him over as she leaped into his arms.

“I knew you would come!” she gasped.

“It was only because—” Arthur stopped before he gave the maid away. She still had to work there. “I knew your parents could be reasoned with. But, my love, you are hurt.” Arthur placed his fingertips against the small bruise on his wife’s cheek.

“It is nothing. You are here now, and I am fine.”

Arthur looked toward James, and he glanced toward Gerald to give the man away.

“It is over now,” stated Arthur. He looked at James, and the man nodded, clutching the pouch close to his chest. “Your mother and father have sold you like they always intended, but I am not buying you, my dear. I am only buying their compliance. Now, we can live our lives as we intended.”

“And, I will never see them again,” said Margaret.

CHAPTER38

Reunited

“Iwill only go ahead with this if you want me to,” said Arthur. “They are your family, so you should have the final say.”

“I thought that I was done with them when I left London, and I thought that I was both physically and emotionally, but I know that we have to do this. Not only do they deserve it, but I don’t want them coming back and trying to get more money from us.”

“Do you think that they will?” asked Arthur.

“It is possible. My father’s business was doing well for a while, but he made bad choices and lost a lot of money. He will do the same with the money you have given him. He doesn’t deserve it. Either he will make bad investments or fritter it away on superfluous things.”

---