Looking around, Juliette suddenly loosened her hair and handed her brother the thick blue ribbon. “Here, take this. Mama swears they are the strongest ribbons in London.”
Doing as Juliette suggested, Julian took the ribbon and fastened Oliver’s hands behind his back, making sure that the knots were secure.
“We will have to take him with us to London. Although, I am not certain what we shall do with him beyond that point,” Benedict said.
Chapter 31
Holding her breath, Lily watched as Julian, Arabella, Juliette, and Benedict came riding toward the front of her aunt’s house. Yet what surprised her most of all was the fact that Oliver was right there on a horse between Julian and Benedict.
His eyes narrowed considerably when he caught sight of her, and it was then that Lily noticed the large gash on his forehead. Her heart leaped with fear when her gaze quickly moved to Julian, searching him for signs of a fight.
They had all hurried from the house when one of the footmen had spotted them down the road, yet Lily had not been prepared for the state of Julian and the others.
Julian’s coat, breeches, and even his hair and face were streaked with mud, yet he still was not as dirty as Oliver, who looked as if he had bathed in the street.
“What the devil has happened to all of you?” the duke asked, his eyes honing in on Oliver more than anyone else.
Dismounting his mare, Julian climbed from the saddle before assisting Benedict in hauling Oliver down from his seat.
The man struggled quite a bit, but he eventually gave in and came to his knees on the pavement, his hands still bound behind his back.
“Would you care to explain to everyone why it is that we are in such a state?” Benedict asked, taking the lead as he stood firmly beside Oliver with one hand on his shoulder.
Snarling up at Benedict, Oliver showed his teeth. “There will be hell to pay when I am finally free! You people cannot treat me like this. I am an American citizen, and I demand that you fools let me go!”
All the ladies beside Lily gasped, utterly appalled.
Sighing, Benedict shook his head. “Very well then, Mr. King, I shall explain for you.” He turned his gaze to the others as he began to explain. “Mr. King here decided that it was a grand idea to chase us all down with a gun in the rain. It was only thanks to Miss Everet that we all escaped with our lives.”
“Miss Everet?” Lily asked in shock, looking from Benedict to Julian.
It was Julian who nodded and confirmed what his friend was saying. “Miss Everet, although complicit in the scheme, turned a new leaf and decided to make things right. She sends her regards and apologies for all the pain that she has caused.” He held her gaze, making her pulse leap with every breath.
Just what was he thinking when he looked at her like that? Was he angry about what she had done, or was he relieved to see that she had not yet left for America?
A commotion broke their gaze as Oliver began to fight against his restraints once again. “Let me go at once!”
The duke’s face suddenly shifted as he looked at Oliver with a wide-eyed expression of anger. “You are the traitor!” He practically growled despite the small crowd that had begun to gather on the street. “How dare you make such demands when you have betrayed your own country and England?!”
Oliver scoffed at him. “And what of it? I am on English soil. You do not possess the power to do anything about the allegations!”
Pulling himself up to his full height, the duke flared down at him. “I may not have the authority to prosecute you myself, Mr. King, but I can assure you that I know the men who possess that kind of power.” He looked over Oliver’s head, beckoning someone in the distance.
Six soldiers wearing red coats and unmistakable badges on their chests came marching to the word, the group on the street, pushing people out of their way.
“You sent for us, Your Grace?” The tallest of all the soldiers addressed the duke while glancing around at all of the faces.
The duke nodded. “I certainly did.” He thrust a pudgy finger in Oliver’s direction. “This man is a treasonous liar, and we possess evidence that will further add to that accusation.”
The newcomers in the crowd all gasped as heads turned to Oliver, who seemed to be seething with rage as he glared at Lily.
Coming to her side, Juian stood beside her, making her feel safe as she returned Oliver’s glare.
He is standing up for me!
The thought made her heart race with joy as she felt like jumping into Julian’s arms and telling him right then and there that she loved him. After everything that had happened, he had still found it in his heart to protect her.
The moment was short-lived as the guards closed in around Oliver and lifted him to his feet with one man on each side holding him up by his arms.