Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Oliver came back to the manor late.

After Nathaniel and him had split, Oliver took a carriage back to Central London, and then walked blindly around the city.

This was happening.

They had had an agreement and Oliver wasn't going to just go on another mission after that.

He'd been waiting for this for years. For the chance to get out of this, to repay his debt to Nathaniel and just be done with it.

Forever.

To be free.

And maybe even speak to Callum and explain everything.

Oliver wasn't just going to let go. He was going to find whatever he needed to finish his job here, even if it was the last thing he was going to do.

Once he was back in his room in Fernsby's, he took his coat off and changed.

The cloth was soaked with the heavy smell of cigarettes and cheap food from the places he'd stopped at, so he hung his clothes by to the opened window.

Tennyson was supposed to be leaving early tomorrow, but considering the late hour, Oliver decided he could go search his study.

The Lord was never in his study at night.

Oliver had managed to snatch the key from Della's pocket the first week he'd arrived, made a duplicate, and returned it without her even knowing it had been gone for more than an afternoon.

He took it from where he was keeping it hidden and headed to his mission.

If someone found him there, he'd tell them what he'd told the secretary that day- that he was looking for a book.

Oliver had found out Tennyson kept some of the account books hidden between the fiction, masked as novels. Some letters were left among the pages.

It was where his correspondence with Olenna was, for example, but Oliver hadn't gone through all the notes.

He’d easily guessed Tennyson had chosen Jenny as the only person to clean the place, as she was so careless and not diligent, that she would have never found anything, even if she had been looking for it.

He pressed the handle, before putting the key into the locker.

It was quiet and no one was around, so he pushed the door to discover it was open.

The study was dark, and considering the fact the maids sometimes left the door open, he entered.

And then he saw a figure in the dark.

It was Callum, reclining in the big armchair, sitting on the exact same spot he had occupied the first time they'd met.

"If this isn't my valet," The Lord said unhurriedly and got up to put some light on.

He was only in a shirt, walking unhurriedly and Oliver's skin crawled.

"Please, have a seat."

He lit the gas lamp and said

"Surprised to see me, Oliver? I must say wasn’t, I expected more of you. By the way, can I still call you Noll?" The Lord put out the match he'd used and threw it in the dark fireplace.

"I said sit. "

Oliver remained standing and said, "I wasn't looking for your father if that's what you think."

Calum crossed his arms and relaxed against Tennyson's desk.

"No? Were you looking for me then?"

Sweat was gleaming on his pale face and strands of red hair were sticking to his forehead. Oliver's heart sank.

He moved a step ahead when Callum said

"Should I strip, or you've been paid already and you don't have to bother anymore? "

"What are you talking about?"

He asked carefully, trying not to say something that might tick Cal. He took a look around the room but didn't see any trace of glasses, or small bottles or anything that Callum might have taken.

Because he definitely had.

He was dangerously calm and he never was sober.

"Oh, Oliver. "Th Lord rolled his neck. "You shouldn't have even tried so hard. I was ready to let you fuck me the moment I saw you. I thought it was obvious? Let him come to you, right?"

Calllum had just repeated the words Tennyson had spoken those moths ago when he’d hired Oliver and Oliver said slowly.

"You know I've never done any of this because..."

"But I have to admit the whole dress-up must've been exhausting. I should be the one giving you money."

It was Oliver who felt hurt at the words, while Callum looked at him with half-lidded eyes, indifferent.

“Did you laugh at me after, or before?”

“Cal, you know that’s not how it.“

“Personally, I find it funny now.”

This was so wrong, everything about it. But Oliver only said

"What did you take?"

"You know...I've always admired ambition."

He placed his hands behind him on the desk. Oliver noticed he was trying to stand still.

The Lord met Oliver’s eyes and continued "I've even envied it. In my father, in Liam. In people, I've let come in my mouth. "

"Cal, what's going on? "

"Do you know what amazes me? How did you make me believe you still work for Charles?"

Sweat ran down Oliver's spine and he took a step closer.

"Don't you dare come near me."

"I can explain, it's not what you think it is. "

"What else do you do for Tennyson?"

Oliver opened his mouth to protest, this was getting more and more confusing "No, I don't. You know I don't."

"How dare you still lie to me?"

Still evenly.

"Cal, listen to me."

"I asked what else do you do for him?"

He almost shouted and pushed away from the table so hard the books piled on it tipped over the edge and fell on the floor with a thud. The Lord looked at them as if the action hadn't come from him and he whispered.

"Get out. "

"Callum, tell me what's going on. "

"Get out, " he repeated

"I'm sorry, Cal. "

Callum closed his eyes and smiled.

"No, don't be."

"I was going to tell you, "

Oliver tried to explain. He had no idea how Callum had found out about what was going on. He realized he'd probably hoped he'd be able to explain one day. But of all the ways he could have, it had to be like that. Just like with everything else.

"Tell me?" Callum slurred and clenched his teeth. He was digging his nails in the table so hard, his knuckles had gone white.

"I was. “ he admitted. “ When this was over."

And he was, he had really believed it.

"Over? It is already over!" He clutched at his shirt's sleeves and Oliver took a step back.

"Out," Callum said. " Get away from here before I've done another thing I'll regret."

***

That night Oliver laid in bed with his eyes wide open until the sky started turning gray. He was cold, the way he was cold whenever he had another sleepless night. He rubbed his eyes, but the itchy feeling was still there.

He dropped his hand to his scar and continued staring blindly at the ceiling. Callum had seen part of it and hadn’t asked him anything.

He ran his hand over the line, crossing half his chest unconsciously. His mind was flooded with memories from everything that had happened back in Liverpool. Memories of his past.

He went back to the nights when he couldn't even blink for a minute when those were a regular occurrence.

Yet, things had started turning so different recently he'd almost stopped going back to those times in his head.

Callum had said he'd never woken up next to someone before him. Oliver had never let himself fall asleep next to another person.

He’d realized this was not just another task after he’d jumped in the water after Callum without thinking.

Oliver had almost believed everything could change. He hadn't let himself think further and what would happen after he'd finished his job.

Oliver decided whatever Callum thought of him and what he did in his past, it was going to be him to tell Cal everything, even if that meant he'd never see the Lord again.

He waited until the grey sky turned a lighter shade of the same dull color and got up.

Oliver shaved and washed his face with cold water, dressed, and went downstairs.

"Whatever happens," he braced himself and knocked on the door to Callum's study.

Oliver wasn't sure if the Lord would be in there at all, most likely he wasn't - but searching for him elsewhere would probably be a worse idea.

He had no idea what had ticked Callum so bad last night, as he couldn't have known about his meeting with Nathan.

Or it could've been because Liam had talked to him.

It sounded highly unlikely.

From what Oliver had seen and learned so far, Liam kept his word. Always.

Whatever it was, they really needed to talk.

Oliver knocked one last time, even though he was sure it was futile and headed for the kitchens downstairs.

****

"What is it?"

He asked as he entered. He saw most of the maids had gathered around the table, sitting quietly.

He hadn't seen many people walking around the corridors, either.

Oliver looked at Jenny questioningly, then at Adelia. He scanned the room and didn't see Della, who was normally with the rest of the servants at that time of the day when Charlotte didn't need her. Percy wasn’t here either.

"Has something happened? Where's Della? "

"She's with the lady."

Jenny whispered.

"The Lady? Is she all right?"

"Yes, she..."

Adelia spoke

"Oliver, Sir Charles was found dead early this morning. The maid is helping the lady prepare before she speaks to the police."

Oliver felt like his entire world, which had already tilted on its axis, now unhinged completely.