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I’ve been told there is already a new owner. And when did you ever give a care to scandal or Craige Castle and its tenants? I admit you were fine in the beginning, albeit somewhat stingy, but the last several years we’ve been lucky to see a shilling for anything in the way of improvements to the castle itself!”
    He leaned forward. “Lucky to see a shilling?Mallory, how can you call an allowance of ten thousand a year a pittance?”
    â€œWhat ten thousand a year?”
    He looked squarely at her, his expression completely serious for the first time since she’d met him this evening. “The money I’ve been putting into your accounts ever since we parted company seven years ago. It was the living I inherited from my mother’s side of the family. I lived off my pay as an officer and gave the rest completely over to you. Are you telling me you’ve never received the money?”
    â€œJohn, we’ve been fortunate if we’ve had a thousand pounds from you in a year, and that stopped coming two years ago while you claimed half the harvest to support your grand way of life and your women .” She spat the last word out.
    â€œThis is astounding,” he said. “You’ve had nothing from me at all for two years?”
    â€œWell, there was the brick walkway you insisted on building. I was forced to let go of servants who had been with my family for years and you were sending workmen to build walkways! Oh, yes, and I mustn’t forget your occasional letters.” She couldn’t resist making that jab. “Especially the one that read, ‘Dear Wife, I hope all is well with you. I am well. Sincerely, John Barron.’” She paused a moment before asking, “Had you really forgotten my name, John?”
    He shot her an irritated frown. “I’ve been sending money. Granted, I’ve been negligent in many aspects of my life, but I have always honored my financial obligations. I’m not a complete villain, Mallory.”
    She and the good people of Craige Castle, who had gone so long without the basic necessities, disagreed.
    â€œMallory, I don’t know what happened to Craige Castle, but tomorrow we will both go to see my Uncle Louis and straighten this matter out. In the meantime, you will come home with me. I will send for your mother to join us.”
    Mallory opened her mouth to protest, but John cut her off. “You are my wife and will stay under my roof. The Red Horse is a mediocre establishment and certainly not in the safest section of the city for two women alone.”
    â€œWhat makes you so certain we are alone?” she asked stiffly, irritated by his high-handed, if completely sensible, manner.
    â€œOh, I have no doubt that if you’d had a host of yeomen at your back, you would have threatened me with them by now.”
    Mallory wished she’d thought of that. One of her reasons for forcing a meeting with John this evening was to avoid the likelihood of his encountering her mother. It had taken the loss of Craige Castle for her mother to see reason and consider a divorce. However, if their eviction had been a mistake and John actually did start providing Craige Castle an allowance of ten thousand a year, her mother would fight a divorce with every breath she drew.
    Mallory looked out the coach window and saw that they were already in Mayfair and approaching his street.
    Hal had wanted to come with her, but she had insisted on his staying back in East Anglia. She’dassured Hal that she would remain true to her dreams. She didn’t want to live out her days as a married woman in name only. She wanted a family. A husband who cared about her, who shared his thoughts and helped shoulder the responsibility of Craige Castle and its tenants.
    At the very least, she wanted someone who remembered her name !
    â€œWhat the devil!”
    Startled by John’s oath, Mallory turned to him in time to watch him throw