CHAPTER 272: PAYING OFF DEBTS (4)

"You should take your advice and stay out of what only concerns women. Meddling in women’s friendships has cost you. I want my money," Edgar said, staying seated. "All of it."

Dale scoffed, put off by how Edgar acted. "The town has been wrong about you. All the rumours say that you have a mountain of wealth, but you come here and act like this for our money. For a small sum of money in comparison to what you are said to have."

"Well, I am not going to stay wealthy if I allow people like you to get off not paying my money. I just married one daughter off, and it was quite expensive. I have another who will marry soon. I need all of my money," Edgar demanded.

Edgar planned well so his family would be well taken care of for years. What he didn’t plan was for Dale to benefit from it.

"We should give him the money and end this now," Erin said, starting to move, but Dale grabbed her hand.

"Like hell we’ll pay this bastard that money," said Dale.

"The duchess owns part of this shop. If I give her the money back, then it will only be mine, right?" Erin asked Edgar.

Edgar nodded. "We’re cutting ties once the money is returned."

Dale didn’t like hearing that Alessandra had some ownership in the shop when Erin recently dismissed him from it.

"I am not paying you all the money you want. When people speak of this shop, they speak of my wife and me. I have never heard anyone speak of the duchess. Take the money I am offering and go before I send for the town guards," Dale said, close to doing so.

Edgar glanced at the door and said, "You would have to make it outside first."

Dale looked back at the door and noticed Edgar’s guards were now blocking it.

If this wasn’t a sign for Erin about how the Collinses truly were, then Dale didn’t know what else he had to do to make Erin wake up.

"Nothing about this is right, Edgar-"

"It’s Duke Edgar Collins," Edgar corrected Dale. "You don’t have the pleasure of forgetting my title. I didn’t come here to fight, I came to get my money."

"Dale," Erin said, touching his arm. "I am going to give him the money."

Dale gripped Erin’s arm so she wouldn’t be able to walk away.

Edgar noticed the interaction between the two.

Edgar looked around the dress shop. He had spent plenty of money preparing gifts for Alessandra, his mother, and his daughters to know how expensive dresses could be, all because of who made them.

Unless Erin wasn’t saving her money or spending it wisely, she should be able to pay Edgar back and still manage to be well.

"Have you spent my money?" Edgar accused Dale. "You’re dressed quite fancy for a man who survives off his wife."

Erin looked at Dale, hoping it wasn’t so that he was spending money without telling her. They needed to pay off what they owed Edgar before they bought anything.

"Erin," Dale said in a low voice. His teeth were gritted as he held back from yelling at her.

Dale didn’t want to put on a show for Edgar.

Edgar already looked like he was amused because he was turning the two against each other.

"Why can’t we give him the money? We have plenty of it. Unhand me," Erin instructed Dale. She wasn’t going to let him hold her back anymore. "I don’t want to owe anyone."

Dale refused to let go of Erin. "We should go to the town guards or the court for this matter instead of doing this alone with him. I told you not to trust them."

Erin yanked her hand out of Dale’s hold and stepped away. "No," she replied. "We’re doing this now. I’m tired of going around in circles. I will get the money," she told Edgar.

Erin walked away before Dale could stop her.

Luckily, Dale didn’t follow Erin. Instead, he stayed behind to speak with Edgar.

Edgar smiled, which succeeded in making Dale more upset.

"You got some nerve coming here," said Dale.

If not for the guards, Dale would approach Edgar. He had a lot to be upset about concerning Edgar.

Starting with the money and going on to what was being said about his brother.

"You know that my brother didn’t have any part in what Simon did, but you refuse to speak up. You’ve allowed the town to believe there was more to the mere friendship my brother had with Simon," Dale accused Edgar.

"I don’t know what occurred between your brother and Simon. I am not part of the court to need to come out and clarify something for your brother to save him. I prefer to turn my back on you," said Edgar.

"Isn’t that what you did with Erin? Didn’t you have her turn her back on my family?" Edgar asked.

"My wife has a mind of her own. She’s realised the kind of man you are and she saw how-"

"She spoke her mind just now, and you ignored her. Did she truly realise what kind of man I am?" Edgar questioned as he stood up. "Or does she only have a mind of her own when it fits what you want? I suggest you go back there and help her count my money so I can leave."

Dale stood his ground.

Edgar, standing up, wasn’t going to make Dale go running off.

"I’m not afraid of you. This act you put on since we were young never fooled me. Since you have a title and money, you think the town has to worship your feet. They cower before you like little fools. You’re a man who has to use his guards to fight," Dale said, taunting Edgar.

Edgar only smiled in response.

Dale was the kind who couldn’t back up what his mouth said, and at the first chance, he would run to the town guards.

Edgar promised to make it back before dinner, and that was what he was going to do.

"Some of us get wiser in age," said Edgar.

Edgar’s temper got better with age. Had it been the past, he would have swung a sword at Dale’s head and worried about cleaning it up later.

Dale didn’t miss Edgar’s insult. He was far wiser than he appeared.

"Be a dear and help your wife, or do you plan to keep letting her do everything for you?" Edgar asked.

"You bastard," Dale muttered, approaching Edgar. He had had enough of Edgar’s insults.

Edgar welcomed Dale, coming toward him since he wasn’t the one starting the fight. He had every right to defend himself if Dale started it.