Page 100 of The Duke's Scottish Bride
Her voice trembled slightly as she thought of her parents, but her resolve was unwavering.
“I am done with ye both. Done with yer lies and yer cruelty. Ye will never set foot in this house again. And ye will never again have any claim over me life, or me inheritance.”
Lady Harlowe, tears streaming down her face, stepped forward, and reached a trembling hand towards Marion.
“Marion, please! You do not understand! We were desperate! He… he threatened us! We had no choice! You must believe me!”
Marion merely looked at her, but she was devoid of pity. She took a deliberate step closer to Anselm and stood firmly at his side. She placed her hand delicately on his shoulder.
“You always have a choice, Aunt. Ye simply chose greed over family. And now, ye will have to live with the consequences of that choice.”
Anselm placed a reassuring hand on the small of Marion’s back. His fingers rubbed her in a soothing rhythm.
“You will leave now,” he commanded. “And you will never attempt to contact the Duchess, or anyone in this household,again. If you do, I assure you, the consequences will be far more severe than a ruined reputation.”
Lord Harlowe could only nod.
Chapter Forty-Four
Anselm stepped forward then. He was not finished.
“Furthermore,” Anselm announced, “I have purchased all of Strathcairn’s estates. Every acre now belongs to me.”
He allowed himself a brief, triumphant smile.
His gaze hardened and settled on Lord Harlowe with an intensity that promised pain.
“You two are to leave this country. Now. And let me be clear. You will never set foot in England or Scotland ever again. If you do,” Anselm said as he took another deliberate step forward, his voice a menacing growl, “I will remove you myself. Forcefully.”
“I do not care who you are, you cannot do this—” Lord Harlowe cried, as he finally found his voice, which was no more than a strangled shout of outrage.
Anselm silenced him with a single, scorching look. With another step, he closed the distance between them and bared his teeth.
Immediately, Lord Harlowe cowered.
“Very well, we will be gone at once. We will see to our affairs, and set sail for Portugal,” Lord Harlowe said as he slunk back.
Mr. Lewis arrived then, as if on cue, with the meager luggage they had brought for an overnight stay to usher them out.
“We can find our own bloody way out,” Lord Harlowe cried as he dragged Lady Harlowe out of the room.
They snatched their bags from Mr. Lewis and practically ran out of Greystead.
“Oh, thank heavens, we are alone now,” Marion whispered as she kissed Anselm’s cheek. “I cannae believe all ye have done for me. How did ye not tell me about the buying Strathcairn?”
“I wanted your aunt and uncle to hear it, for them to serve as witnesses. There is nothing I would not do for you, my beautiful lass.”
“I like the way ye call me lass,” she said she planted a small kiss on his lips then. “Aye, I think me faither would have been most proud of ye for this… and happy to call ye his son-in-law.”
“I cannot tell you how much that means to me, or how much it pains me that I will never be able to meet him or your mother. It is my hope… that perhaps I can meet them in a way through our future children. Maybe they will have the same love for Scotland and zest for life you have told me so much about.”
“Oh, Anselm,” Marion said. There were tears in her eyes as she looked down to the floor. “I do not deserve all this.”
Anselm took her chin in his hand and pulled it up so he might kiss her softly.
“You deserve the world, my tempest.”
“Oh, Anselm,” Marion cooed again as she placed her head on his shoulder. She stood on her toes and kissed the lobe of his ear softly.
