Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(103)

“But I’ll still have a hand in the King’s decision-making. My father is the most powerful judge in Parliament.”

“But George will always have the final say.”

She dismissed me with a wave of her hand. “There are ways around that.”

My irritability started to turn into blind rage. My adrenaline pumped through me, and all I wanted to do was wipe that cocky smirk off her face.

“If you keep pursuing Garrett, I guarantee that I’ll make not only his life a living hell, but Hara’s as well. Now that I have myself within the Royal family, I can put things in disarray. I’m not na?ve enough to think he’ll love me. Cranfield will probably hate me for the rest of his life. I’ll try to sway him, but he is a stubborn man; a woman can only do so much.

“All I need to do is get myself with child and I’m set for life.” Before I could open my mouth, she continued. “I already know what you’re going to say. He won’t sleep with me. There are other ways around that too.”

“You are a disgrace,” I sneered. “Why are you doing this?”

She smirked. “I think I’ve answered enough of your questions. There is much, much more up my sleeve, Barlow, darling. I hold more power than you think I do.”

A branch snapped behind me, and we both turned toward the sound.

“Lady Chitwood, to what do we owe this surprise visit?” George addressed, his voice void of his usual pleasing demeanor.

“Enjoying the beautiful summer afternoon, Your Majesty,” Sophia reveled with a big smile.

“Then you’ll excuse us,” he quipped. “Ava and I have a lot of planning to do.”

∞∞∞

I faked a headache.

I needed to speak with Eve alone.

The threats Sophia made started to scare me more than I wanted to admit. Lord Chitwood was a powerful judge; I just didn’t know how much supremacy he held over the other judges and men of court.

Going against Femme Fatale, and who knows how many other men, was frightening. I felt feeble and defenseless. George needed their support for his army, along with their coin purses. He couldn’t afford to lose them. With that money and backing, though, came the daughter of the most influential judge of them all.

Wanting to marry my Garrett.

In the large library, I sat in the chair Garrett found me all those months ago. I remembered being curled up, asleep, and startled when he kept my fire going. The memory hit me, the bitter taste of defeat starting to set in.

Eve sat down in the chair next to me, holding my forearm. Her lavender perfume filled the space between us; the same perfume I remember smelling at the Melon Berry picnic, worn on ladies dancing around us.

“What did she say?” Eve broke through my torturing thoughts and memories that would continue to haunt me for the rest of my life.

“She told me to stay away. She threatened Hara’s future too.”

“That little wretch! You should have slapped her again.”

I chuckled. “Trust me, I wanted to.” I looked over at the fireplace that held no fire. It was cold and empty; exactly how I felt right now.

“She can’t do this!” Eve ranted. “She can’t just ruin people’s lives.”

I looked at my best friend, and my jaw started to quiver. I could feel an uncontrollable sob wanting to rack my body.

“She already did, Eve. It’s over.”

She shook her head. “No, no. It’s not.”

“It is.”

Eve brushed my arm with her thumb. “Don’t give up yet, A. You love him; he is the only thing that has made you smile every day since you’ve been back. I’ve never seen you so blissful.”

“It’s not that I’m giving up,” I retorted. “But that I can’t gamble these people. Hara, George, and Garr—all of them will be affected.”

Eve came closer to me. “How?”

“George will lose the support of the Lords. He needs the money. If people start thinking that George can’t run and protect this country, they can order a regulation of release.”

She furrowed her brows. “What does that mean?”

“It means that if Lord Chitwood can get Tellivan allies to agree he is unsuitable to protect his people, they can force him out. It’s a protection clause with the treaty. No king wants a weak country standing next to them, in case needed. They could frame him for negligence, or that he wasn’t trained properly for the role. There are just so many possibilities.”

“That’s preposterous!”

“She knows Garrett’s plan about divorcing her. She’ll get money from her father, so she’ll want for nothing. She already has her foot in the door with being married within the only Brandon heir left in Tellivan—George. Now he will be a pawn if I keep pushing my suit.”

“They may still do it, even if you do give up.”

I sighed. “They could. But then there is Hara to think about. Sophia is pressing her to marry someone horrible.” I shook my head. All the things Sophia could try and do, just by asking her father, were endless.

We were both silent for a few moments, the air thick and heavy. Every minute that went by felt like a lifetime. I wanted to see Garr but knew that I would break down and keep at this charade of his plan.

If we left, George would be alone, possibly dismantled from his crown. If Garrett were here, he could conceivably protect him and Hara. His Elite Eight would be able to get whatever information he needed to protect his family.