The Secrets of a Lady

Chapter Twenty-One

Audrey shivered as Griffin looked at her, then through her as if she didn’t exist at all. The fury in his cold eyes was tangible, burning despite his icy exterior. Whatever had been happening in that room before she entered wasn’t a pleasant chat about boxing or racing.

She’d seen that look in Griffin’s eyes before. He was furious with Ellison, but also with her for coming here so soon after she’d been attacked. If only she’d known he’d be there, she would have waited to pay her call. Now his presence put her entire plan in jeopardy.

To her surprise, Griffin bowed stiffly first to her than to Ellison. “I can see I’m intruding so I will bid you both farewell.”

“Good day, Berenger,” Ellison said with a nod. “And don’t forget what I said.”

Griffin paused at the doorway to look over his shoulder in disgust at Ellison. “No, I don’t think I shall be able to.”

When the door had shut behind him, Audrey took a step toward Ellison, though her body was screaming at her to run after Griffin.

“You two weren’t arguing about what happened…” She paused with a blush she didn’t have to force. “About what happened last night.”

“It isn’t important, my dear.”

Ellison motioned to the chair Griffin had vacated. She took it, trying to ignore the warmth that still radiated from the cushion where Griffin’s body had been.

“It is very important to me if Lord Berenger was threatening you because of a misunderstanding caused by me,” she said as she leaned forward. God help her if she didn’t look earnest. “He didn’t harm you, did he?”

“Of course not,” Douglas scoffed with a roll of his eyes. “There’s little a man like that can do to harm me. A broken nose is secondary to what I can do in return.”

Drawing in a sharp little breath, Audrey glanced at Hannah. Though the maid kept her eyes down, Audrey could she that she, too, had registered Douglas’s threat.

“I don’t want you two to fight over me.”

Ellison let out a laugh. “Of course you do. All women want men to fight over them.”

Holding back a barbed comment, Audrey smiled without answer. There was no use getting into a debate on the feminine mind with a man who didn’t believe she had one to begin with.

“Let’s not talk of your friend any longer,” Ellison said with a smile of his own. “I’m surprised to see you here after last night. I planned to call and apologize to you this afternoon.”

Audrey swallowed past the bile that kept her from saying what she’d practiced. “I feared you might encounter trouble with Lord Berenger if you called at his home today, so I came here instead. I owe you an apology, as well.”

Ellison’s eyebrow went up and he leaned back. “Really?”

Sinking her teeth into her lower lip, she looked around her as if she were ashamed and whispered, “You frightened me with your forwardness, but… but I liked it in a way, too.”

His face darkened as he glanced at Hannah then back to her. “Did you?”

“Yes. You’ve been such a kind friend to me and I repaid that kindness by allowing someone to harm you, then running away from you.”

The tears gathering in her eyes were painfully real, and though Douglas might think they were for his ordeal the night before, they most certainly were not.

He angled closer. “I would like to be much more than a mere friend to you. After last night, you’d be a fool not to realize that. But if you’ll allow me a private moment, I’ll tell you what I mean.”

“Hannah…”

“Ma’am,” Hannah’s voice was sharp. “That wouldn’t be proper.”

“Just for a moment, Hannah.” Audrey gave her friend a hard, pointed look.

Hannah took in a breath to say more, but didn’t. Her position didn’t allow her to scold Audrey, at least not in front of Ellison. Later, Audrey knew she’d hear plenty. With a grumble, her ‘maid’ left the room.

“When we’re married, we’ll hire a better attendant for you,” Ellison muttered with a glare at the door. “One who doesn’t hover around like a mother hen and have the gall to correct you.”

Audrey’s head spun. “Married?”

With a smile that would have been gentle if she hadn’t seen the predatory gleam in his eyes, Douglas took both her hands. “This wasn’t the way I had envisioned asking you, but I want you to be my wife.”

Audrey had the strangest urge to giggle. Not five years before she had longed for a proposal of marriage. Now she didn’t want any and had received two within the span of a few days, plus one from Jean who was only partly serious.

Douglas filled her hesitation by saying, “We would be the perfect match, Audrey. You bring your money and your family name to the relationship and I could take care of you as no other man could.”

Audrey fought to hold back a plethora of retorts to that statement.

“I’m not sure,” she finally replied.

At that, Douglas rose up from the chair to look down at her. His gray eyes were cold as steel and his manner had changed completely. Instead of being the attentive man he always played while with her, she saw the monster he could become toward anyone who crossed him.

“You spend time with me, you encourage my attentions, but then deny me when I make an honorable offer to you?” His tone was a combination of disgust and outrage. “It makes me wonder what you are doing with me. Are you a tease as the rumors said all those years ago?”

Audrey froze at this second mention of the past she’d always thought was a secret. Douglas had to have done much investigation to find out about it. The thought terrified her.

Standing, she shook her head. Backtracking was her only escape route.

“Because of my past, I’m very shy of men. The things that were said of me then were vicious rumors told by vindictive people.” Audrey dipped her head in mock subservience. “Please don’t take my hesitation as a refusal or a game. I do… care for you.”

“Then be my wife.”

This time it wasn’t a question, but an order. Audrey glanced up at him, wondering why he was so adamant about the issue. Was his organization running out of money, so he needed her dowry? Or were his plans to assassinate the Prince coming to fruition and he wanted her to be his if he was forced to flee the country?

The possibilities spun through her head. It wasn’t as if she would truly have to marry Douglas Ellison. Noah and she would unmask and arrest him long before any wedding. In the next few days she hoped to bring the man to justice. But being his fiancée offered her the opportunity to move closer to him, while it would push Griffin further away from her and from danger.

“Yes, Douglas, I will.”

He flashed a grin before he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her against his chest in a tight embrace. Audrey thanked her stars he didn’t kiss her. The thought of his lips on hers made her already queasy stomach even sicker.

Leaning back, she looked up at him with what she hoped was an adoring stare. “If it’s not too forward, perhaps you could give me a tour of your home, since I will soon be living here.”

If she obtained nothing else from this despicable ruse, at least she would get some recognizance. What Jean and the other agents couldn’t find, Audrey prayed Douglas would show her. And that she would recognize it.

“Of course, what a charming idea,” Douglas said, taking her arm to lead her into the hallway. Hannah’s dark head came up immediately as the door opened, but when she saw Douglas and Audrey were together, she dropped her stare and silently obeyed Audrey’s quiet order to follow behind.

The tour was tedious. Douglas seemed more interested in telling her about a family history she knew instinctively was a fabrication than in showing her anything of interest. From room to room they went, looking at portraits and talking about silver closets and dining rooms. In each room, Audrey ohhed and ahhed in the hopes he’d take her interest as sincere and perhaps reveal something she could actually use.

She was beginning to despair when they passed by a closed door on the way to Ellison’s study.

“What’s that room?”

“Hmmm?” he muttered, turning back. His eyes narrowed, but he gave her an appraising glance. “Perhaps you would be interested in my collection since you find forbidden lifestyles so thrilling.”

Pulling out a key on a special ring, Ellison unlocked and opened the door, then stepped aside to let her lead the way. When Hannah tried to follow, he moved in front of her with a distinct shake of his head. Though her friend scowled, she backed into the hall.

The chamber could only be described as a war room. There were suits of armor standing guard on either side of the door. Weapons of all kinds hung from the walls, from pistols to bayonets to spears. There were even uniforms, some dirty and bloodstained, as if they hadn’t been cleaned since the occupant had been run through.

With a shiver, Audrey asked, “What is this?”

“It’s my tribute to the ancient art of war.” Ellison’s voice was suddenly distant as he looked around the room with a smile. “Everything important in this world is decided by war, Audrey. It is to be respected and revered.”

“Even if it brings death and destruction?” she asked quietly.

He looked at her evenly. “You’ll see what profit one can acquire from a war. In time, you’ll appreciate it as much as I do.”

Audrey turned away before Ellison could see the look of disgust on her face. Bending down, she looked at the artifacts in glass casings. Most were gruesome, but not of any use to her. Finally, she reached the massive dark maple desk in the back of the room.

She turned back in surprise. “Do you work here?”

He smiled. “Special occasions and special jobs deserve a special room.”

Audrey’s heart actually moved, she was sure of it. First it dropped to the pit of her stomach, then up to her throat where it kept her from making a sound, even a peep. In her bones, in her blood, in her heart she knew that this was the place she and her fellow spies had been looking for. This was the room where Ellison hid all his secrets.

“Well it’s very nice,” she said. “Though a bit intimidating.”

Ellison’s face broke into an ugly grin, as if he took pride in any form of intimidation.

Where did he keep his list of associates, or any proof of what he was doing? Her eyes flew to the desk. In the drawers, or perhaps a secret compartment? A large picture of a particularly horrific battle scene hung on the wall. Did he have a safe behind it? Or perhaps evidence was hidden in the liquor cabinet. The window seat. Within the books on the bookshelves.

Just as she was about to turn away, a small red box on the desk caught her eye. It was Oriental in design, with an elaborate green and gold dragon on one side. Something about it drew her closer, and she reached out to run her fingertip across the top.

“This is lovely.”

“Yes.” Suddenly he was standing right beside her. Just the proximity of his body made her cold. “Isn’t it?”

“How does it open?” she asked as she turned it over in her hand. There didn’t appear to be a lock on it or even a lid for that matter.

“There’s a special key.” With a frown, Douglas took the box away from her. “This box is ancient, and it keeps the secrets of the past well.”

Audrey smiled, but this time didn’t have to force the expression. This was it. She had found what they had been looking for. Taking one last glance at the box, she took Ellison’s waiting arm.

As they left the room and he locked the door, he said, “I want to start our life together off properly. I want to ask your father for your hand in marriage.”

Audrey balked. This wasn’t something she had anticipated. Her father had been ill for quite some time, and she and Noah didn’t have time to wait for Ellison to visit him, allow her father to size him up, then return to London. If he did that it would be too late.

“My father is very sick,” Audrey explained. “Which is why I travel with my brother. He’s my protector in my father’s stead. You could ask him for my hand.”

Ellison hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Very well. And that makes it all the easier. We shall walk there now.”

Throwing a glance over her shoulder to the wide-eyed Hannah, Audrey followed Ellison back downstairs to get her shawl.

***

“You’re completely missing the point, Noah!” Griffin slammed his drink down on the table and the flower arrangement shivered with the impact. “She went to Ellison’s house without notifying either of us, the very day after the man nearly ravished her. She has no regard for her own safety.”

Noah wrinkled his brow. “I understand perfectly, Griffin, there is no need to shout. I’m upset Audrey and Hannah did this on their own accord, as well. Especially considering last night’s events.”

His friend sighed as he rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Still, Griffin, I–I do see the value in what she’s doing. She wants to put Ellison at ease, to make him believe he can trust her.”

“So you don’t have a problem with her running off and putting herself in further danger?” Griffin asked with an exasperated sigh as he flopped into a chair. “Of course, you don’t. Apparently, I’m the only person who sees how outrageous this whole situation is.”

“Here we go again…” Noah began, but before he could finish the door to the study opened and a footman stepped in.

“I beg your pardon, my lords, but Lady Audrey has returned and…”

“Well, send her and her maid in here,” Griffin snapped as he turned on his heel to face the door. “I have a few things to say to her.”

“Yes, my lord, but she isn’t alone.”

Noah uncovered his eyes and straightened up in his chair. “Who is she with?”

“With Mr. Ellison,” the footman said. “They say they’d like to speak with Lord Lockhart.”

Noah stared at the servant and then shot a hooded glance toward Griffin.

“Wonderful,” Griffin muttered. He sat back down and smoothed his jacket. “Send them in.”

In a few moments, the door opened and Ellison strolled in with Audrey on his arm as if she were a prize he’d won. His eyes lit up when he saw Griffin was in the room, and he grinned at his foe with glee.

Noah’s face hardened. “Good day, Ellison. And Audrey, I wish you’d let someone know you were going for a stroll this morning.”

He gave his sister a dark look, but to Griffin’s surprise she refused to meet either man’s eyes.

Ellison moved his arm to wrap it around Audrey’s slender shoulders. “I’m sorry if you worried about your sister. But I assure you she was quite safe with me. In fact, I have an important matter to discuss with you.”

Audrey’s eyes lifted slowly. Glancing first at Griffin, she touched Douglas’s arm. “Douglas, this is a private, family matter. Perhaps Lord Berenger…”

“No, no, no,” Ellison interrupted as he met Griffin’s eyes evenly. “I’m sure Lord Berenger will want to hear this news.”

Audrey’s gaze came back to Griffin. She seemed to be pleading with him to step out of the room, but he looked away as if he hadn’t understood her stare. There was no way he could leave now.

Noah folded his arms. “What is it that you need to discuss?”

“I’d really rather talk with your father, but Audrey tells me his illness would prevent that, and that you stand in his stead as Audrey’s guardian.” Ellison gave Noah a half-smile.

“True. What of it, Ellison?” Noah’s eyes narrowed.

The other man took a deep breath and his wicked gaze slipped back to Griffin. “I am here to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage.”

Griffin did his best to control his reaction to the stunning words coming from Ellison’s mouth. Though he wanted to leap up from the chair and wrench Audrey away from the blackguard at her side, he somehow remained seated, staring up at his enemy with what he hoped was an unaffected expression.

Beside him, Noah drew back. Griffin could tell he, too, was struggling with the proper reaction to this news.

Finally, his friend spoke, “I see. Is this what you desire, Audrey?”

Griffin held his breath as he waited for her to answer in the negative. Surely this game had gone too far if Audrey was willing to become engaged to the evil man at her side.

She turned her head to look from the corner of her eye. Her face was pale, but determined as she said, “Yes.”

And at that moment, Griffin’s entire world screeched to a halt. He couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Audrey couldn’t have… wouldn’t have… agreed to this farce. Not after she’d turned down his proposal earlier in the week. This was lunacy!

A long pause engulfed the room. Finally Noah broke it.

“Very well.” He rose and walked over to the couple. “Ellison, I don’t like what went on between my sister and you last night, but I see you’re trying to amend it by taking her hand. Congratulations.”

Noah held out his hand and the other man took it, shaking it even as Noah glared in warning at Griffin over his shoulder. Ellison turned to Griffin with a triumphant smile as he dragged Audrey over to stand before him. With dancing gray eyes, he held out his hand.

“I hope I have your congratulations, as well, Lord Berenger,” Ellison said with a sneer. “Since you are such a good friend to the family.”

Slowly, Griffin rose, taking his time so Ellison would get the full effect of his superior height. He was pleased when just a touch of fear lit up in the other man’s eyes. With great effort, he extended his hand to Douglas and ground out, “Of course, Ellison. My heartiest congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you,” Audrey whispered without meeting his gaze.

“Well-” Noah’s voice seemed very distant to Griffin. “-you and I have much to talk about then, Douglas. Perhaps you’ll come for a walk with me in the garden so we may speak privately about your future with my sister.”

Ellison nodded. “Yes.” Turning back to Audrey, he smiled. “I shall see you later, my love.”

Lifting her hand, he kissed it, then left the room. Immediately, Audrey’s face fell and she shivered as if she’d been holding the shiver in for hours.

Hannah glanced from one to the other, then patted Audrey’s hand. “I’ll let you have a moment.”

When she’d left and closed the door. Audrey turned to him with a miserable face. “Griffin-”

“Don’t.” He wasn’t sure he could take any explanations from her at the moment.

“Please, let me tell you why.”

“I know why.” He turned to the bar and poured himself the strongest drink he could stand. “You want to solve your precious case. You want to be done with it and out of my life as soon as possible.”

Her mouth parted a fraction at his blunt appraisal of the situation. “It isn’t as harsh as it sounds,” she said as she crossed to his side. “I do want to finish this case, but it isn’t to get away from you. At least, not the way you think…”

“Well, I feel much better.” He downed the strong brew in one gulp. It burned his throat and warmed him, but it didn’t help him block out the tangled emotions that tormented him. “How far will you go with this ruse?”

Her chin came out in indignation. “What do you mean?”

“By the haughty look on your face, I’d say you know exactly what I mean. Will you actually marry him if you cannot defeat him in a day or month? Will you climb into his bed and…”

Her hand came up like a flash and the slap contained all the force of her small body. When he turned his stinging face back to her, her hand was over her mouth and her eyes were full of tears.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Slowly, he placed one hand on each of her shoulders. “No, you shouldn’t have. You shouldn’t have done so many things since this entire fiasco began.”

Slowly he lowered his lips to hers, claiming her mouth with tenderness despite his growing anger.

“You shouldn’t have come to my house,” he whispered against her lips. “You shouldn’t have asked for my help.”

Now he moved his mouth to her throat, darting his tongue out to taste the flavor of her earlobe.

“You shouldn’t have allowed me to kiss you. You shouldn’t have made love with me. Because you are mine now. You’re mine and I refuse to share you.” He drew back from her and slipped a finger beneath her chin, lifting her face up toward his gently. “I don’t care if it’s for King or country, Audrey. I won’t share you.”

Her answer was a little sob and sigh all at once as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. There was no teasing or tenderness about this kiss, just pure animal possession, ripping his defenses down even as he felt hers come down as well.

There was something bittersweet about the way their bodies moved together, as if they were saying goodbye while they touched. Griffin supposed they were in a way. Audrey had made the choice of her case over him. There didn’t seem to be a way to fight that.

So he simply surrendered, sitting down on the ottoman and dragging her on his lap. She squirmed closer to him, relaxing in his arms as his hands roved and their tongues tangled. His fingers grazed the smooth skin of her inner elbow, his tongue lapping at the curve of her neck. Meanwhile, she touched him in return, rocking against him as she smoothed her hands down his jacket and across his chest.

“Audrey.” He loved the way her name reflected back on his own breath. “Audrey, please…”

With a little startled cry, she lurched off him, nearly knocking herself onto her behind on the floor in her hurry to get away.

“No.” She smoothed her dress, wiping the wrinkles away as if it would help her forget. “This isn’t right, not for either of us.”

His face set in stone as he stared up at her.

“And throwing yourself headlong into danger is better than being with me? Is that what’s right?”

Releasing her breath in a sharp gasp, Audrey backed away from him. “You don’t understand, Griffin, you don’t understand at all. Douglas Ellison may be a danger to my body, but you…” she paused, her face softening as she looked down at him. “You are a danger to my heart. And I’m no longer sure which one I fear most.”

With that, she hurried from the room.

And his whole world crashed around him.