Page 120 of An Unwanted Spinster for the Duke

“Ah, him. What do you want to know about him? Lord Linpool is a charming fellow, and he is currently my second eldest daughter’s suitor,” Grisham declared, keeping his tone light.

But Marianne could tell that her father had sensed something was amiss. His expression had darkened.

She rose from her seat. “A charming fellow? Certainly, Linpool can be charming. But here’s what you need to know. Last night, he abducted me and held me at gunpoint. He even forced me to write a suicide note, with details that I don’t dare recount.”

Her cheeks still burned when she remembered how she wrote a confession to Dominic. A false one. She’d given him a little idea of what the note was about, but they had not truly dissected everything that was wrong with the incident.

“Certainly, you are exaggerating,” her father grumbled, narrowing his eyes at her. Then, to Dominic, he said, “Remember that your wife made a fuss about serving stag at my dinner party. She refused to eat meat, and even had her cat attack a guest.”

“I am not merely listening to a story my wife told me,” Dominic replied, his voice hardening. “I was there when Linpool tried to abduct her from Oakmere Hall, with a pistol to her temple. We have him and his accomplices in custody. The authorities are already involved. This is not someone’s fever dream. It’s real.”

Grisham shook his head, still unable to believe his son-in-law’s words. “Preposterous! That can’t be true. You can’t come here to my home and tell me such lies!”

“You let a man like Linpool into your home, knowing the danger he posed. You ignored your daughter’s warnings,” Dominic growled at him.

Marianne could see the last of her husband’s patience falling apart. She remembered that he had just lost his self-control moments ago. Her senses were on high alert.

“Don’t speak to me about my daughter! Do you think I care about your opinions? I’ll not be berated by you, of all people.”

Grisham was no better. His temper had always run hot, and one thing he didn’t like was his word and authority being questioned.

“Father—” Marianne began.

“Shut your mouth, Marianne! You’ve been nothing but a burden to me. I was glad when a duke chose to marry you, but for what? Here the two of you are, making it harder for me to find husbands for your sisters. It was all for nothing!”

Without warning, Dominic punched the Marquess so hard that he staggered and fell to the floor.

“Is that what you can do? You hit an old man who is not at his full strength?” Grisham yelled, his face red from anger and embarrassment.

Dominic was unfazed by the question. His anger still boiled as he loomed over the older man.

“You chose to endanger your daughters just so you can associate with that man,” he accused in a low, rumbling voice.

Grisham clutched his jaw, more likely feeling a numbing pain there. “How dare you!” he exclaimed, trying to scramble to his feet.

His cane had fallen to his right. He tried to reach for it, but Dominic was quicker. He bent low and pressed his knee into his father-in-law’s chest, pinning him down.

“Your poor treatment and negligence of your daughters end now, Grisham,” he warned. “Let them, especially Marianne, live normal lives. They deserve better, not this cowering-from-fear sort of life.”

Marianne stepped forward, her eyes blazing and her body trembling with long-repressed anger.

“Father, you’ve treated us as pawns and constantly made us feel like burdens. You ruled the house to incite fear and not to inspire love. You brought us into this world—for what?” she asked, the pain in her voice searing through.

“Y-You don’t understand,” Grisham stammered, his defiance faltering.

His gaze darted away from her. It was the first time he did that, but it didn’t feel like a victory for Marianne.

“Oh, I understand perfectly,” she continued. “You care more for appearances than your own children. We are meant to solidify friendships and business partnerships, nothing more.”

Breathing hard, Dominic finally released Grisham. He stepped back and away from him.

“You’re leaving for Scotland today. That’s not a request, but an order. You will be staying with my relatives there. You will not return until you’ve reformed.”

He pulled the Marquess to his feet before turning to the door.

The older man was protesting, though Marianne no longer registered his words. There were half-formed threats there, mixed with empty promises.

Her heart ached at the thought of not seeing him again. It was surprising, since she had thought she hated and feared him, and nothing more.