Samuel stepped out of the carriage behind Leopold and Omar. He looked up at the Hall with mixed emotions. This was his family home. Now, there was no immediate family left to fill it.

Leopold and Samuel had spent the last four days going through the accounts, speaking with solicitors and talking of the future, for the House of Irvine, and what steps Samuel could take to move forward as the now duke. His first task was to deal with Caroline Somersby. She was owed nothing from the estate. If anything, she should hang for her part in the deaths of Haliford and Frederick, but Samuel had other ideas.

A footman rushed down the stairs with the butler following. Samuel kept his head covered with the hood of his burnoose, and pulled the cowl of his turban up to hide his face. Leopold had wanted him to start dressing as he should, being the Duke of Irvine, but Samuel had not yet finished being Sámi completely. Until Caroline was dealt with, he would remain dressed as he had been for his years of exile, which she had played a great part in. He did not want to be Samuel Denyer, the Duke of Irvine yet. That role might soften him, and what he was about to do needed cold, hard hate, to carry it out.

"My lord, this is a surprise. The duchess was not expecting you." The butler looked curiously from one man to the other.

Samuel knew him as Marvin, Frederick's butler from the London house. A surge of fear swept through him. Where was Anderson? Marvin frowned as his eyes rested on Omar in recognition, and then back at Leopold as he spoke.

"No, she would not be expecting us." Leopold lifted the side of his mouth in a grimace. "We will need three rooms, Marvin. Get your man to carry our cases and tell the... ah... lady we would like an audience immediately. We shall wait for her in the drawing room." He beckoned Samuel and Omar with his hand, and then headed up the stairs.

Samuel glanced at Marvin as he passed, and then over at the footman who was once his valet, Carson. He was glad to see his face, and to know he hadn't lost his job, even if he had lost his position.

*

"My Lord Denyer." Caroline flung the door opened. "What is this all about? Marvin said you needed to see me urgently." She gasped when she saw Omar sitting in the wingback chair. "Who is this?" Caroline had not yet seen Samuel, who was standing in the corner behind the door.

"He is my saviour." Samuel stepped forward as Caroline spun at the sound of his voice. He pulled his cowl down, and lifted his head, as he swept the hood back to show her his face.

Caroline clutched her hand to her throat, she staggered backwards, and then her face changed to excited glee as she flung herself towards him. "Samuel! Oh, Samuel!"

"Stop!" Samuel gripped her wrist and pushed her down onto the settee where he stood before her.

She held her hands out to him. "This is such a shock. Where have you been? We were all so worried about you. Poor Frederick died thinking you were dead, as did my loving brother. How could you do this to everyone?

"Stop!" Samuel gripped her chin. "I told you to stop." He glared at her. "Your brother died knowing exactly where I was."

"He was..." she whimpered as Samuel's fingers tightened on her mouth.

"No more, Caroline. You and I both know the truth of this. Now, I am back to take what is rightfully mine, since you murdered my father and brother."

"I didn..."

"Stop." Samuel gripped her harder and cocked his head. "Are you going to keep on with your lies?" He shoved her face to the side with his palm and sneered, "Of course you are."

"I didn't know any of it. You have to believe me," she cried. "He beat me and..." Caroline clutched her throat once more. "You saw. You know what he did to me. I..."

"Helped George smother my father, and poison my brother," Samuel scoffed at her. "Now it's time to pay for what you did." He turned to his uncle and Omar. "Could you both leave us for a moment?"

"Samuel?" Leopold took a step forward.

"Please, Uncle. I won't be long. Caroline and I have some things we need to discuss, then I will let you know of my decision." Samuel waited until the door closed and looked down at the woman wiping her eyes.

"I didn't do those things, Samuel. I don't know who told you that, but they are lying." She reached out to try and take a hold of him. Samuel knocked her hand away.

"Your husband, Caroline. It was your husband, who told me your part in my father and brother's deaths."

"My husband? Your father was my husband."

Samuel laughed. "My father was never your husband." He stepped closer and lifted her head so she could look him in the face. "George, Caroline, your real husband, George." Samuel smirked. "It's amazing what a person will tell someone to try and get out of dying."

"What?" Caroline's eyes widened.

"As I drove my blade slowly into his heart, he told me everything." Samuel grinned. "I learned many things while I was enslaved, Caroline. One of them, was how to kill."

"You bastard!" She lunged from the settee and tried to slap him across the face. "You killed the father of my child!"

Samuel shoved her back onto the chair. "We're not quite finished yet. You murdered my father. You poisoned my brother. Two people you took from me. Now it's time to pay. I take two people from you. The first is done. The second." Samuel smirked and cocked his head.

"No!"

"You took a father and son, Caroline. I take a father and son."

"No..!" she screeched, and then leapt from the chair again, trying to attack him.

Samuel grabbed her by the arms and shook her. "Would you prefer to hang?"

Leopold and Omar rushed through the door at the sound of Caroline screaming. "Samuel? What's going on?"

Pushing Caroline back onto the seat, Samuel laughed. "Caroline doesn't like my terms, Uncle. I think she would prefer to hang for her crimes."

"What terms, Samuel?" Leopold looked from one to the other.

"I plan to take her son from her, as she took those who I loved from me." Samuel paced the floor.

"He shall be taken care of, though not by me. I will find him a good home."

"No, you can't do that to me. I love him. Please." Caroline sobbed and slid onto the floor. She tried to grab Samuel's ankle. He stepped out of the way.

"You had no regard for the love I had for my brother and father. I can do this, and I shall. You will be unable to take care of him, because you will need to find a job to support yourself."

"No," she blubbered. "Please... I can't work."

"Then you will starve," Samuel sneered. "Perhaps laying on your back will suit you better."

"Are you really going to do this, Samuel?" Leopold asked in shock.

"Yes, Uncle. I am. The boy was not sired by my father. William will be raised by another. Someone who will not poison his mind with vengeance. She will never see him again. If he turns out to be a good-hearted person, then I will provide him with a legacy when he turns twenty. This will safeguard me against any future attacks my dear fake stepmother might think of committing. If she loves her son, as she says, then she will stay away. If she hurts me or mine, in any way, then I will hurt her son." Samuel pulled a pouch from around his waist and threw it down to the sobbing woman. "There is a small sum of money in this bag to get you on your way. It is up to you, how you wish to live the rest of your life, but the House of Irvine will have no part in it. Go back to wherever you came from, so my life may somehow continue." He pulled Caroline to her feet. "I will not have you anywhere near me. If I ever see you again, I will kill you."

"Samuel!" Leopold put his hand on Samuel's forearm. "You mustn't say such things."

"She needs to understand the true depth of my abhorrence for her, Uncle, and as you now know killing is no stranger to me." He turned and took Caroline by the chin. "Do you understand these terms, because if you go anywhere near William or me, this estate, Denyer House, or any of my family, I will cut your throat slowly, and watch you bleed out." He gave her a shake. "Answer me."

Caroline whimpered, "Plea..."

"Answer me!" Samuel shook her again.

"Yes..." Tears streamed down her face. "I'm... sorry. Please..."

Samuel let her go and pulled on the bell to summon Marvin. "A footman and maid will escort you to your room. You may pack any clothes and personal items you wish, except jewellery. I will allow one piece, as the rest probably belonged to my mother, so choose wisely. Then you can say goodbye to your son. You will be put into the carriage we arrived in, and be taken wherever you desire."

"Plea...." Caroline attempted to grab him again.

"Go! Now! Before I change my mind and strip you of everything."

Marvin appeared at the door. His mouth dropped. "My Lord, Samuel." He quickly bowed. "I'm sorry, I mean Your Grace."

Samuel tilted his head and repeated his orders. "When this is done, Marvin, I want the staff to be gathered in the dining room. A new era begins."

Well, what do you think of Samuel's punishment for Caroline?  

Does she deserve this, or worse?

Photo taken from Mansion Global