The Secrets of a Lady

Chapter Three

Audrey peeked out the carriage window to take in the view. Over the past two hours, the green fields had given way to buildings. They were at the very edge of London now. The edge of her destiny, whatever that was. Audrey took in a calming breath. She could do this.

“Didn’t like what you saw, love?” Hannah Pikard asked from her left, patting her arm with genuine friendliness.

Audrey grinned at her comrade. Hannah was older than she by only seven years, but often treated her like a mother would. They were close enough friends that Hannah seemed to see through any pretense Audrey tried to maintain. It was both a blessing and a curse.

“I have no quarrel with London, Hannah, you know that,” she said with a laugh.

“Aye, but your face has grown paler with each passing mile. There’s something in the city that has you spooked. I wonder if I can guess what it is?”

She winked as Audrey stuck out a playful tongue.

Noah looked up from his paperwork with a smile. “Don’t tease her so, Hannah. She needs to concentrate on work now, and so do you.”

“What is there to concentrate on?” Hannah laughed, the big, bawdy sound of it filling the coach. “All I have to do is mind my language and behave like a maid. My role isn’t a difficult one, I assure you.”

Audrey put an arm around Hannah and squeezed, glad she was on this assignment. She always felt safe with her friend. Perhaps it was because Hannah was one of the best agents in the War Department, or maybe it was because she had wicked aim when it came to throwing a knife. Whatever the reason, Audrey knew she could talk to Hannah openly about anything and never receive a shocked response. After all, the woman had been a prostitute before Noah had swept her off the street and into the government’s employ.

“Audrey, you’ll be pleased to know Ellison is enamored of you. He sent a letter before we left asking when we would arrive in London and if he could call on you.” Noah held up a piece of paper with a nod. “So all the work we did in Avonblithe has apparently paid off.”

All Audrey’s playful feelings faded. “I’m pleased my ruse to gain his attention is working, but I wish I didn’t have to be quite so close to Ellison.”

“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Hannah reassured her. Lowering her voice, she added, “And I have a feeling your Viscount will be watching out for you, as well.”

The blood drained from Audrey’s face as she looked up to make sure Noah wasn’t listening. Audrey’s girlhood infatuation with Griffin had been the topic of many a conversation between the two friends.

“Somehow I doubt that,” she whispered back. “He isn’t very happy about this whole arrangement. I can’t say I am, either.”

“You’re worried about living in the same house as the man you once loved?” Hannah’s green eyes sparkled with teasing.

A blush warming her cheeks, Audrey nodded. “Or believed I loved.”

“Do you remember our first meeting, Audrey?”

“Yes.” Audrey thought of how scandalized she’d been when she realized her partner was a former lady of the evening.

Hannah smiled softly. “You were so frightened, so unsure of yourself. Do you feel that way now when you start a new case?”

“I do feel some nervousness, but more excitement,” she admitted.

Hannah nodded. “And do you still think I’m nothing more than a lightskirt?”

Audrey squeezed her friend’s hand. “Of course not! I love you like you were my own sister. I know you’re so much more than circumstances forced you to be in your youth.”

“That’s right. You have changed, have you not?” Hannah pressed.

She shrugged. “Yes.”

“Then don’t fear Griffin Berenger. He’s a man, not a legend. And you aren’t that child who worshipped him anymore.”

Audrey nodded as the truth of Hannah’s words sank in. “I know that, my dear friend. But when I look at him, I can’t help but feel like that girl who was so filled with love and sorrow all at once. My tongue gets tied and my stomach goes fluttery.”

“Hmph.” Hannah wrapped a ringlet of glossy brown hair around her fingertip absently. “Well, he is a handsome man. All of London is screaming for his return to Society, and no wonder.”

“Yes, no wonder,” Audrey murmured.

“Are you two finished talking about Griffin as if I weren’t sitting right here?” Noah shut his file with a swish. “May we get back to business and forget about the giggling and nonsense?”

“And him the king of nonsense!” Hannah burst out with a saucy wink for Noah.

“Aye, but not when it’s traitors we’re dealing with, my dears,” he said with laughter in his tone.

“My brother is right.” Audrey shoved her worries about Griffin aside. “We do need to concentrate on matters at hand. What is our first step once we arrive in London?”

“We can’t appear overly eager,” Noah answered. “After all, you’re offering Ellison all the advantages here. If you chase after him, he may become suspicious.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t forget, I’m a hopeless old maid with no prospect of a husband on the horizon. He may simply believe I’m eager for any offer.”

Noah’s face softened as he brushed the top of her hand with his fingertips. “You found Mother’s letter, didn’t you?”

Audrey bit her lower lip. She hadn’t realized she’d quoted directly from her well-meaning mother’s latest missive. The one her older brother had so kindly tried to hide from her.

“I wasn’t snooping.”

He laughed, but his eyes remained full of worry and the slightest hint of pity. Not much, but enough to sting Audrey’s pride.

“Of course you were! It’s in your nature, and a good thing, too.” He frowned. “But I’m sorry you had to read that. You know Mother is only concerned for you.”

Audrey sighed. “Yes, I do know that. She would have been happier if I’d married Squire Teetle when I had the chance and been done with it. She’ll never forgive me for that.” She pulled back the window curtain and glared out at the Thames as it rushed by. “But we’re straying from the subject. I know my role, to distract our dear Mr. Ellison by whatever means necessary.”

Both Noah and Hannah looked at her with wide eyes at that declaration.

“Within reason, of course. Remember, when we play these little spy games, I’m the perfect lady. I would never be expected to go too far.” Audrey winked. “But the horrified looks on your faces were well worth the hideous image that popped into my head at the thought of doing anything more than taking Ellison’s arm.”

“You shouldn’t tease about such things, Audrey,” Noah admonished with a glower. “You never know when a dire situation might arise, and I doubt you would find it funny then.”

Though the carriage was warm, Audrey shivered. She had to make jokes, at times it was the only way her situation didn’t terrify her.

Noah paused as the carriage passed through the gates to Griffin’s city estate just off St. James Street. “The rest of our discussion will have to wait.”

Audrey nodded shakily. She was happy to be off the subject of their dangerous work, but uncertain if she was ready to face Griffin again.

As the footman helped her down, she looked up at the large house. She hadn’t been here since she was a little girl. Anything had seemed possible then, as Noah, Audrey and Griffin had raced down the hallways. When she’d stumbled on the back staircase, Griffin had been the one to help her up. Her little heart had skipped a beat for her savior.

And now, at the ripe age of twenty-three, it skipped again as Audrey looked up to the doorway to see Griffin step outside to greet them. He was far too handsome for his own good. And she was far too aware of it for hers.

He smiled as they exited the carriage, but it seemed forced. “There you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming after all.”

“Good afternoon, my lord,” Audrey said. He caught her gloved hand gently in his own to place a light kiss on top of the fabric. Though his lips barely grazed her, she felt the touch through her every fiber.

“Good afternoon, Audrey,” he said with a playful wink as he stressed her given name.

She was stunned at the change in Griffin. Back at Bentley Square he’d seemed broken to the core by his wife’s death. Here he was lightened, lifted, even if it was just a little, from the fog of pain.

The group stepped inside the foyer and waited as footmen appeared to take the luggage up to their respective suites. Hannah nodded knowingly to Audrey, then dutifully followed another servant up to begin unpacking her trunk.

“Audrey?” Griffin tilted his head to catch her attention.

“Hmm, I’m sorry. Just woolgathering,” she said with a weak smile. “What were you saying, my lord?”

“I was asking if you two would like a bit of tea. I’ve had a tray put in the South Parlor. Unless you’d prefer to go upstairs and rest after your long journey?”

She nodded. “No, tea would be fine.”

Griffin moved to take her arm, but Audrey took Noah’s before their host could touch her. He frowned slightly but then motioned them down the hallway toward the sitting room.

As Audrey settled onto an ottoman in the parlor, she stared around her. The house hadn’t changed much.

“Your parents used to come here quite often, didn’t they?” she asked.

“Yes.” Griffin grinned. “Although as Earl Father had a much grander house in the city, I believe he and my mother were nostalgic for the days when they first married and he held the title I now hold. They loved this place.”

“So did I.” Audrey sighed. “As we were coming up the drive, I was remembering all the times Noah and I came here and the havoc the three of us wreaked.”

“You used to follow us around!” Noah said with a grin. “We wreaked the havoc.”

“Well, I stand corrected,” she said in a haughty tone before dissolving into a light laugh.

She glanced over to find Griffin staring at her again. When their eyes met he quickly broke the stare. She chided herself for wishing he’d held her gaze a moment more.

Clearing his throat, he said, “Yes, there were many happy times here. I had forgotten them over the past few years. It’s good to have you both here to remind me.”

Audrey wrinkled her brow as the sadness she had sensed in him before suddenly returned. She reached for a topic that was safe. For the moment, her mind was blank. The only subject she could think of was Luci Berenger. That was obviously the very last thing Griffin wanted to discuss.

Why did this place made him so unhappy? Luci and their unborn child had died at their country estate. But perhaps memories of the happy life they’d shared in London were too much for him to bear.

“I’m sorry to interrupt.”

Audrey turned to find the butler standing at the door. He bowed smartly and said, “A Mr. Ellison has arrived. Should I allow him in, my lord?”

Griffin didn’t answer, keeping his eyes fixed on Audrey for a moment more before his butler’s words seemed to sink in. Finally, he nodded.

“Yes, Cotter, that would be fine. Show the gentleman in.”

After the man was gone, Griffin turned to Audrey, his gaze intense. “I must state again that I have qualms about this whole arrangement.”

Noah nodded. “Because of that, I thank you all the more for your help.”

Griffin frowned, but before he could protest further, Ellison entered the room. The bitter stench of Macassar oil preceded him, nearly gagging Audrey before she smoothed the reaction from her face and rose.

“Mr. Ellison,” she gushed, holding out a hand to the man. “What a pleasure it is to see you again.”

In comparison to Griffin, Douglas Ellison looked small and weak. He was much shorter, only slightly taller than Audrey. His oily black hair was slick with the smelly hair tonic he used to put it into place. As always, his gray eyes, slid up and down her body greedily before he placed a kiss on her hand.

“Lady Audrey, I’m so glad you have arrived in London at last.” He maintained his grip on her hand a fraction longer than was necessary.

She forced a smile as her stomach turned. She was accustomed to the sensation, as it was her general reaction anytime Ellison touched her. She turned her face and was surprised to see Griffin’s eyes narrow. He looked ready to kill over Ellison’s unwanted familiarity.

But that was ridiculous. Griffin only cared that Ellison was a blackguard and a traitor, not about anything else. When it came to her, there had never been anything else at all.

***

Griffin hated Douglas Ellison with his dandified clothing, the starched collars that nearly touched his ears and his slick hair. He hated the way the man looked at Audrey as if she were already his property. But most of all, he hated that Audrey took his neighbor’s arm with what looked like genuine pleasure, even though he knew it wasn’t. She was no more than a practiced liar.

Just like Luci.

Running a hand through his hair, Griffin held back a groan of displeasure. Audrey was nothing like Luci. That he’d even considered the possibility made him seethe inside.

“Berenger?”

Griffin realized with a start that Ellison was daring to refer to him as if he were a familiar.

“Yes, Ellison, I apologize. What was that?”

Griffin ground his teeth. He wouldn’t do anything to break Noah and Audrey’s cover, even if he wanted to rise up and pummel Ellison into unconsciousness.

“I was saying how sorry I was to hear about your wife,” Ellison repeated. “Pretty woman, Lucinda.”

As he fought his desire to crush Ellison, Griffin caught Audrey’s gaze. Her face was soft with concern, almost as if she understood his feelings. But how could she?

“Lady Berenger died too young,” he choked out. “I thank you for your sympathy.”

Ellison’s face lit with the slightest of smirks. “You’re welcome.”

“Well,” Noah said as he rose to his feet. “I’m certain you’d like a moment alone with Audrey since you two haven’t seen each other for so long. Griffin, didn’t you want to show me some sketches in your office?”

Griffin blinked in disbelief. Were they about to leave Audrey alone with this traitor, this murderer?

“I…” he stammered.

Noah came to his side and motioned for him to lead them from the room.

Griffin had no choice but to do so, but he threw one look over his shoulder at Audrey before he left. Not that she noticed. She had already turned her entire attention to the man sitting beside her. It was as if Griffin didn’t exist. A fact that boiled his blood.

As he and Noah moved down the hallway, he snapped, “You’re leaving her alone with him?”

“Calm down,” Noah said. “The door is open. It’s perfectly acceptable for them to have a moment or two alone.”

“Do you have any idea what can happen In a moment or two?” Griffin asked through clenched teeth.

Noah rolled his eyes. “He’s not daft. Ellison wouldn’t dare try anything in this house with you and me just down the hall. And if Audrey cannot be alone with the man, she can’t very well do her job.”

Griffin understood his friend’s reasoning, but he bloody well didn’t have to like it. He opened the door to his study and slammed it behind them. He stalked over to mix Noah a drink. His friend arched an eyebrow at his emotional reaction before sinking into one of the plush leather chairs.

Griffin smashed the tumbler down on the side board. “Damn her job. She shouldn’t have to sell herself like some kind of…”

“Hey!” Noah interrupted, half-rising from his chair to clench his fists. “Audrey is a good agent, but she isn’t a whore. You would do well not to forget that in either my presence or hers.”

Griffin barely held back a curse. Again, he’d been comparing Audrey to his late wife, but he had no right to do so.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“I don’t care what you meant or didn’t mean.” Noah snatched the drink Griffin offered. “Why the hell does her work matter to you so much anyway?”

Griffin downed his drink in one swig. Did he have an answer for that question? Certainly not a satisfying one. “She’s an old… friend. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“Hmmm,” Noah muttered. “Just be sure your ‘protectiveness’ isn’t what ends up hurting her in the end, old man, or you’ll have to deal with me. Because I fear you have more ability to harm her than Douglas Ellison could even fathom.”

With that, Noah put his empty glass on Griffin’s desk and strode out of the office. Griffin stared at his friend’s retreating back. What could he have meant by that remark? There was no way Griffin could harm Audrey because it was plain she felt nothing for him anymore.

And that was all the better for both of them.