He shook his head angrily, allowing the disbelief to cloud his thoughts.
Chapter 27
Earlier that evening…
“Oliver,” Lily gasped, unable to believe her own eyes as she hurriedly looked around.
Stepping in her way, Oliver quickly blocked her path. “I would not scream if I were you, Lily, darling. One glimpse of us alone here in the gardens and your reputation will be ruined.” He smirked.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as the gravity of his words flooded her chest.
This was planned.
She took one final look around before addressing him in an even tone. Her heart was pounding with fear, but she needed to keep her wits about her until she could escape. “What do you want, Oliver? I am a married woman now. You cannot possibly think that there is any way for you to interfere?”
The smirk on his lips faded into a sneer as he glared at her. “So I have heard. I still cannot believe that you would do such a thing to me, not after everything that we have been through.” His words dripped with bitterness as he spat.
“What have we been through?” Lily scoffed. “You mean the harlot you slept with while we were engaged? I would hardly callthat an experience we shared!” she hissed back, balling her fists at her sides while still attempting to keep her voice low.
His sneer quickly turned into a look of rage, and Lily found herself regretting her words. “I would not speak to me in such a manner, if I were you, Lady Barnard…” He drew out her title with vicious intent, hanging on every syllable.
Her breath stilled in her chest as her fear continued to rise. It was not like Oliver to show up without a plan. “I will only ask one more time, Mr. King. Why are you here?”
His voice came out in a snarl when he spoke again. “I am here to take back my bride. I was promised your hand in marriage, and I shall have it.”
She took a step toward him out of anger, not thinking of the consequences. “I… Am… Married!” She emphasized each word, hoping to drive her point home.
He looked away from her for a moment as he sniffed importantly and then stepped closer to her. “I have heard, but that is what an annulment is for, my dearest one.” His smile returned as he held her gaze.
“An annulment?” Lily frowned as she searched his eyes.
Oliver nodded. “Yes, I am certain that you are familiar with the word. I am giving you twenty-four hours to start the annulment process. After which you will return to America with me, and we shall place this entire fiasco behind us.” He nodded toward the hall, encompassing all of Redding Hall.
“And why on earth would I ask my husband for an annulment when he has not done anything wrong?” Her pulse began to race as the fear of what would come next rose in her chest.
Allowing the corner of his mouth to hook into a sardonic smile, Oliver scoffed.
“He may not have done anything wrong, but you, dear, sweet Lily, have been implicated in the scandal of a century. What will the very stern Duke of Archibald have to say about your union when he hears of the help you provided me with in passing along the information to the Spanish? I hear he is quite the bulldog when it comes to the enemy countries.”
“But I never…” Lily could feel her face growing paler as the breath left her body.
Oliver shook his head. “Now do not say never, my dearest. Did you never question where it was that I got that diamond necklace from? The one that you were ever so fond of when I first started courting you?”
Every ounce of her body froze as she opened her mouth.
He could not have.
She swallowed hard, feeling the sinking feeling in the pit of her gut worsen.
“Yes, I see you have finally realized how you will be implicated in this story. The necklace was a gift from the Emperor of France.He was only too willing to contribute to the ambassador of Spain’s already generous gifts.” His laughter came out in a low growl.
All the blood began to drain from her face as he continued to speak.
“Who is to say that you were not fully aware of the information being passed from the start? You were only too eager to accept my gifts.” He shrugged.
She found her voice again as her fear turned to anger. “You cannot be serious? You have all but implicated yourself in treason of all things!”
“And what of it? The world knows by now that I am implicated. What they do not know, however, is that your dear husband served in the military and in the House of Lords, and is now married to a traitor. I am certain that the gossip columns would love to run with that.” Hetskedhis tongue in mock disappointment. “I wonder what they will all say?”