Once Bound Always Bound

Chapter 4

Margaret stopped walking, turning to face Alistair. "What do you mean you are cleaning out your room? It's our room. Also did you seriously say that I wouldn't need my possessions that are in there? What on earth makes you say such a thing? Are you planning on buying new things for me?"

Alistair rolled his eyes at what Margaret had said to him. "What in the bloody hell makes you think that I would go out of my way, to buy you new possessions? You don't seem to understand what I'm trying to say do you? You don't seem to understand what I'm trying to say, do you? I'm getting rid of you, because you pose as a thorn in my side. You stand in the way of what I want."

"And what is it that you really want? Is it that young girl who set foot in this house? Are you seriously going to throw away our marriage, that way you can go run off with her? Do you honestly believe that a girl like Emmeline would settle for a man who has such terrible luck with the women he marries, dying? Tell me my darling husband, how long do you plan on keeping this pretty little thing around, before you grow bored with her and throw her away, like you have done with all of your other wives," Margaret asked.

"It's a shame that you won't be around long enough to find out whether or not Emmeline suffers the same fate as you do. Who knows, maybe she will be the Mrs. Crump that will give me children to continue my bloodline. And you will be a rotting corpse that lies in the ground of the basement, only to be forgotten about. Nobody will miss you when you're gone. And my father will be pleased when you are gone; as well as be very pleased when I marry a woman who is truly worthy of the crump last name," Alistair said. "Oh, don't look disappointed Margaret. You outlived your purpose far longer than any other woman before you. But now, it's out with the old and in with the new. I can't help that I no longer find you attractive as I once did."

"You are seriously going to murder the woman who holds your child in her? You would seriously get rid of me as though I was yesterday's trash," Margaret asked.

"Actually yes, I would. Because I know that you're not pregnant with my child. You're only saying it, hoping that I won't kill you. Besides, you knew the moment that you agreed to become my wife, you knew that you would eventually suffer the same fate as all the other wives before you. Did you honestly believe that you were more special than the other three before you," Alistair asked.

"Actually yes. Because you told me that I was special. You told me that you would spend the rest of your life with me," Margaret said.

"Yeah, and I found someone who isn't a common street walker, who would use me to gain a name for herself; or gain money from my family name. Even better the woman that I have set my sights on, she comes from a family who is just as wealthy as my own. She comes from a family who is simply trustworthy. I can't exactly say the same about you. Besides Margaret. I only married you, because I knew it would anger my father. Just like he angered me when my poor darling mother passed away. I feel he didn't do enough to save her. He has more than enough money to hire the best doctors to save her; or he could have purchased some kind of magic to have helped my mother heal from her illness. But he stood there and watched as she grew weaker and weaker as each day passed. He didn't think about the pain that he caused by watching her ide. Because of my father, my mother died before I could go and find a woman worthy to call my wife. But soon everything will come together. I will gain everything I want and so much more," Alistair said.

"You're truly a monster. Your secret won't be kept hidden for very long. You think you will get away with all that you've got planned now, but the truth about you will come out. Everybody will know what a sick, twisted, evil bastard you are, Alist-" Margaret began to say before Alistair slit her throat.

Alistair stood there watching as Margaret clutched her bleeding throat, in a pathetic attempt to stop the bleeding. He continued to stand there watching a Margaret dropped to the ground, gasping for breath as her life was draining from her body.

Oh, just die already. You won't be missed by anyone. All of your damn family turned their back on you anyway when you made the decision to go walking the streets like the common whore that you are, Alistair thought as he made his way to the servants' stairs all the way up to his room, so he wouldn't be caught with blood splatter on him. It's a good thing I wore the clothes that Margaret nagged me to wear, since she had purchased them as a gift to me. I was planning on burning these while she was out on one of her many outings with the other wives who have nothing better to do, other than shop and talk. But they came in handy for the task. Now I can burn them and be gone of everything that has to do with Margaret. Which will be good, because I don't need Margaret hanging around in spirit ruining my marriage to Emmeline, Alistair thought as he quickly stripped the clothes, made a fire throwing them in before going to wash the blood off himself.

Once Alistair was sure that all of the blood was washed off, he made his way to his wardrobe, grabbing clean clothes, putting them on before checking the mirror to make sure he looked presentable. He wanted everyone to know that he was serious about this marriage. "I won't allow this opportunity to slip through my fingers. I won't allow anyone to stand in my way of getting what I want...or should I say who I want."

Once Alistair felt he looked presentable enough, he made his way down to the study where he knew his father and his father's guests would still be.

Once arriving at the study Alistair wasted no time in knocking on the door. Alistair threw the door open with a smile on his face, ignoring the glare that his father was sending his way. "Now why the sour look on your face father? I thought you wanted me to take care of things with Margaret."

"I do. I thought you would be occupied with doing just that," Addison said.

"I'm done dealing with Margaret. I came out and told her that my marriage to her was a mistake. I also offered to be a gentleman to pay for her to leave and start a new life elsewhere and go back to using her maiden name, as well as find herself a new husband who can give her everything she desires and so much more," Alistair explained.

"And how did the whore take the news," Addison asked with suspicion lacing his tone.

"She agreed that it would be for the best. She was beginning to believe that she had entered a loveless marriage anyway, and she admitted to me, that she didn't want to be in a marriage if she was not the main woman who owned my heart," Alistair explained.

"And if you don't mind my asking young master Crump, who is the lucky lady who owns your heart," Jakob asked.

Alistair smiled while turning his attention to Emmeline. "The very woman who holds my heart in her hands is your loving daughter Emmeline. I know I literally met her today, but when I look at her, or I look into her beautiful eyes, I can't help but feel like I have known her all my life. I feel a deep connection with your daughter, that I have never felt with anyone else before. Mr. Firestone, will you please give me the honor of taking your daughter's hand in marriage and allow me to call her my wife?"

Emmeline looked at her father with a pleading look on her face, silently begging him not to go through with the marriage. Unfortunately, Jakob ignored the pleading looks that his daughter was giving him.

"Alistair Crump, it would be a great honor to allow you to have my daughter's hand in marriage. Do you have any idea when you want the wedding to take place," Jakob asked.

"The sooner the better. If you don't mind that Emmeline and I have a small intimate wedding with only family attending," Alistair said.

Before Jakob could respond, Emmeline spoke up. "How could we have a wedding when I don't have a proper dress for our wedding? And I'm sure the dress maker would need some time to make a dress to my liking. That is something that cannot be rushed."

"Oh don't be silly my blushing bride. I had this feeling that I would need something special made. Now there is no reason as to why you and I can't become husband and wife," Alistair said.

"Alistair, why don't you wait until tomorrow to marry your beautiful bride to be? Give her tonight to process the big change that she's about to go through. Besides, you had just ended things with Margaret. What would people think if they see you rushing to the church with a different woman," Addison stated. "I think it would be for the best that you spare the poor girl the trauma of being talked about by everyone else. It's the least you can do for her, Alistair. She's innocent in all of this."