Page 116 of A Devious Secret

“I haven’t told him that exactly, but I daresay it wouldn’t matter.”

“No?” Henry asked. “Because you would be a drain on his finances, just as you have been a drain on mine.”

“I am still the Countess of Hawkinge.”

“That you are,” Henry said, grabbing her arm, “and you will do what I say.”

Gemma attempted to yank her arm back, but Henry wouldn’t release his hold on her. “You are hurting me, Henry,” she cried out.

Henry pulled her closer towards him. “It isn’t just me that is appalled by your behavior,” he said. “Your father has expressed his concerns as well.”

“I do not care a whit what my father thinks about me or my behavior,” she declared.

Henry’s face grew hard. “What happened to you, Gemma?” he growled. “You used to be such an agreeable woman.”

As she went to reply, Nathaniel’s commanding voice came from behind her. “Release my cousin,” he ordered.

Henry dropped his hand, and his face grew expressionless. “We were just having a friendly conversation.”

Nathaniel came to stand next to her. “It didn’t appear so friendly.” He turned to address her. “Are you all right, Gemma?”

Gemma rubbed her reddened arm. “I am now.”

Nathaniel frowned as he glanced down at her arm. “This goes without saying, but you are no longer welcome in our home.”

“But Gemma is my countess!” Henry declared. “You have no right to keep her from me.”

“She is family and will continue to reside with us.”

Henry took a menacing step towards Nathaniel. “That means little to me since she belongs to me.”

Gemma’s mouth dropped open. “I belong to no man.”

Nathaniel put his hand out and ushered her behind him. “You heard her,” he said. “Gemma is a widow and I do believe has earned the right to answer for herself.”

“Where were you this past year and a half?” Henry demanded. “I was the one that cared for her and gave her a roof over her head.”

“That was your duty since she was your brother’s wife,” Nathaniel said.

“If my brother had cared for her at all, he would have given her a jointure,” Henry remarked. “But he didn’t. He didn’t care for her well-being.”

Nathaniel’s voice held a warning. “You are out of line.”

“I don’t think I am,” Henry responded. “To prove to Gemma how unimportant she was to him, Baldwin left her a worthless piece of property.”

Gemma felt tears burn in the back of her eyes. “What a cruel thing to say,” she said as she remained behind Nathaniel.

“It is about time that someone said it,” Henry responded.

Nathaniel went to stand toe to toe with Henry. “It is time for you to leave,” he ordered.

“Or, what?” Henry huffed. “You will make me?”

Stephen’s voice came from further down the path. “We will be happy to assist Lord Hawthorne in removing you from the premises.”

Gemma glanced over and saw Stephen and Hugh approaching with purposeful strides. Henry must have realized he was outnumbered because he took a step back.

“Ah, the shipbuilder and gambler have arrived to save the day,” Henry mocked.