Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,43

that would put the Hope diamond to shame. It was surrounded by smaller, if only by comparison, pear-shaped diamonds in a floral pattern.

Richard took the necklace from the man’s grasp and clasped it around my neck. It felt cold and heavy as the centerpiece jewel nestled between my breasts.

The man droned on. “Set in eighteen-karat white gold, these are a spectacular selection of diamonds and sapphires totaling only slightly less than two hundred seventy-four carats for the entire suite…”

The second man stepped forward and held out a matching bracelet to Richard.

Lifting my arm, I could only stare in wonder as he clasped it around my small wrist. It fit perfectly.

“Richard, what is all this?”

“My darling, every duchess has a wedding suite of diamonds,” he answered, amused.

Brushing my hair aside, he carefully fastened the pear-shaped drop earrings to my lobes.

Everything about this moment was something out of a fairytale or movie.

Richard stroked my cheek. “I love you, my sweet little bird.”

“I love you too,” I replied softly.

It wasn’t until much later, after the surprise and euphoria of the moment had slightly worn off, that I realized he had never actually asked me to marry him. In true Richard fashion, he had decreed I would be his wife and I had obeyed.

King captures pawn.

Game over.

Chapter 17

Lizzie

London. One week later.

My life was… complicated.

It was inevitable that the press would find out about our engagement. One of the world’s most eligible bachelors was off the market. What I hadn’t been prepared for was the feeding frenzy that followed. My life and background splashed across the internet and newspapers. Countless paparazzi tailing my every move. And of course, Jane agreeing to do interviews as my closest friend, giving romantic details about my relationship with Richard. Curiously, she rarely got any of the details correct, and yet Richard seemed pleased whenever he saw a video or article with her name. It was as if she was acting as a counteragent to anything unsavory that might come out. I also noticed she carefully avoided any mention of my time on his estate.

As crazy as it sounded, I was now longing for that time again. Where I lived in a protected cocoon of daily strolls around the garden, horseback rides into the country, lazy afternoons spent reading in the conservatory and elegant dinners with pretty dresses and jewels. My wanting to go back to that time only reinforced my belief that it was me, not Richard, who had started the game and then went in so deeply I’d gotten… lost for a little while.

My guilt over accusing him of manipulating me and playing some kind of evil game with my mind and body kept me in check during all the hectic wedding plans that swirled about me. Whenever I felt trapped or indecisive, I reminded myself it was Richard who loved me and protected me and always had my best interests at heart. It was me who twisted and confused his love into something dark and wrong. I would never question him or his motives again.

Especially not now, when he was so eager to keep me safe.

The announcement of our upcoming wedding had also brought out a troubling number of death threats and hate mail from all over the world. Most of it was from poor delusional people who were mostly harmless. The problem was it made it that much more difficult trying to learn who had threatened me with the dead bird and bloody feather. The suspect pool went from a handful of people to thousands overnight.

Richard worked tirelessly to narrow it down. There was no clear shot of the mysterious maid. Apparently, she had seemed to know where the cameras were and just when to tilt her head to avoid being captured on film. So, for now it was a dead end.

My fear over Richard reviewing the security tapes and learning I had stolen a mobile turned out to be unfounded… just like the rest of my fears about him. Two mornings after we returned from Paris, as I was adding birdseed to Dior and Coco’s dish, Richard strolled into the room and placed a new cell phone on the table nearest to me.

“Apparently you have been wanting one,” was all he said before kissing me on the forehead and leaving for a meeting.

Sure, it was one of those children’s phones that had a GPS system that could not be disabled and only allowed for a limited number of phone numbers and highly restricted internet searches,