Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 308: No More Warnings

He never got to finish.

Elspeth's hand flew up and cracked across his face. The slap rang through the hall.

She lowered her hand, her voice cold. "You know I'm tough, and you still think you can preach to me? Then you deserved that."

Alistair's head snapped to the side. He stood there stunned and speechless.

Elowen spoke briskly. "See the marquess out."

Bran and Anson stepped forward at once, efficiently guiding Alistair toward the door.

His voice rose, thick with anger and humiliation. "Elspeth, you can't—"

Cassian cut straight through him, his tone sharp as steel. "Bran, go with him. Make sure the marquess and his people leave Aunt's guest house."

That order drowned out everything Alistair was trying to say, swallowing whatever threats or regrets might have followed.

By the time Alistair climbed into his carriage, he felt half as though he were being driven into exile.

The feeling unsettled him badly.

Once, he was the Marquess of Havenstead. More than that, his wife was the aunt of both Theodric and the Duke of Duskmoor. Even the greatest nobles treated him with courtesy.

But privilege came with its price. He had endured Elspeth's temper, her sharp tongue, even her blows.

He had never dared strike back.

When Lydia had arrived with Nina, she had seemed so gentle, so compliant. That was what he had always thought a woman ought to be.

He couldn't help favoring her, or spoiling Nina.

Whenever Elspeth got angry, Alistair would simply avoid her until she cooled off, or until he needed something from her.

The truth was, she usually wasn't that hard to coax into a better mood. But this divorce—he had never expected it.

For the sake of appearances, he had resisted, but...

Maybe this was freedom after all. He was the Marquess of Havenstead.

His sons were grown, and both had bright futures.

Even if Elspeth took back her property and money, he would still live comfortably.

And now he could finally marry Lydia.

The thought stirred a flicker of heat in him.

He returned to the guest house and went straight to Lydia's room.

She looked deathly pale, with no color in her lips and barely any strength left, yet the moment she saw him, her eyes lit with desperate hope.

"How did it go?"

Alistair took her hand gently. "It's done. I divorced her. From today on, it's over between us."

A flush rose in Lydia's cheeks. She looked openly overjoyed.

He smiled. "Lydia, you're my wife now."

Tears ran down her face. She could barely force out a whisper.

Alistair pulled her into his arms and murmured her name again and again.

"Marquess." Bran's voice came from the doorway, polite but firm. "You need to leave now."

Alistair stiffened.

Lydia looked up, confused. "Where are you going?"

He forced a smile. "This guest house belongs to her. She doesn't want us staying here anymore."

Lydia blinked, then offered a sympathetic explanation. "I suppose Elspeth just refuses to accept what's happened. She wants to make things difficult and force you to lower yourself."

That was how it looked to him too.

Bran added pointedly, "Marquess, please hurry."

Lydia snapped, "Always pushing. You'd think she owned the place. Didn't the marquess buy this estate with his own money?"

Alistair didn't reply. If he was being honest, no. He hadn't paid a single coin. He had never had that kind of money. This was Vanelle. Property here cost a fortune.

But he said nothing. He only gave Lydia a tired smile. "Let's just go, all right?"

Lydia let it go. Fine. It's only one house.

Really, Elspeth was a complete fool to settle for only the guest house.

The important things were the businesses, the jewelry, the gold. Those mattered far more.

Especially since the royal decree was still coming, the one that would make her a Marchioness of the First Rank.

That thought steadied Lydia again.

With Lydia weak and leaning on his left arm, and Nina's small hand in his right, Alistair walked out.

At the carriage, the driver looked at him without warmth. "Marquess, this carriage belongs to Lady Elspeth. Since you're divorced, you can't use it anymore."

Caught off guard, Alistair hesitated.

Lydia frowned. "Wasn't this carriage bought with the marquess's own money? How can she refuse to let him use it now?"

The driver gave her a strange look. "The marquess's money?"