The Secrets of a Lady

Chapter Seven

Audrey paced across the sitting room and glanced back and forth between Griffin and Noah. Both looked dapper in their evening clothes, though Griffin’s good looks and his delicious scent made him all the more a draw. At least to her.

Stifling a sigh as she remembered her private vow to squelch her feelings for him, Audrey reached up to straighten Noah’s cravat.

“Don’t forget, I haven’t told you a thing about Ellison’s behavior in the carriage, so don’t say anything to him about it. It will make him think I didn’t mind his vile kiss no matter how coyly I acted at the time.”

She couldn’t hold back a shudder at the memory.

Noah jolted with dislike. “I know.”

Audrey pursed her lips. She hated it when her brother took on that condescending tone. It wasn’t her fault that the merchants dinner invitation didn’t extend to women. She only wanted to be certain the men remembered their parts. Noah had never worked with Griffin, and that increased the danger level.

Her mind spun with good advice. “If you get a chance, try to get him talking about the Prince. If you allow him, Ellison might let something slip he wouldn’t dare in front of me. He thinks I’m a silly woman who wouldn’t understand his political opinions, but with you…”

“I know, Audrey.” Noah gently removed her trembling hands from his now mangled cravat and turned to the mirror behind him. “Well, this is wrinkled beyond repair. I’ll run upstairs and have my valet give me another. Hold the carriage for me, will you, Griffin?”

Griffin nodded wordlessly without looking up from the papers he was sorting.

With her brother and his watchful eyes out of the room, Audrey took a moment to examine Griffin. He really did look devastating in his eveningwear. He looked darker, more serious, though she wouldn’t have thought that possible. She found herself happy that no other women would be at the event to admire how smashing he looked.

“Do you remember your role?” She wrung her hands reflexively and began to pace.

With a short sigh, he stacked the papers in his hand on the table. “Yes, Audrey.”

“And you will be careful, won’t you?” she asked. “This is your first time doing this kind of work. It’s difficult not to get excited or try to behave differently, but remain calm and collected. Just pretend as if this were a normal event and-”

Griffin slowly crossed the room to step in her path. With a smile, he reached out to take both her cold hands. All her racing thoughts quieted as she stared up at him.

With tortuous slowness, he kissed each of her hands across the top of her fingers. His warm lips sent moist heat through her veins and turned her knees to water. It took all her willpower not to lean against him and beg him for more.

His voice was hoarse when he said, “Noah and I will be fine. As far as I’m concerned this is a normal event. I shall observe those around me more closely and listen more carefully. If Ellison gives me an opportunity to press him for information, I’ll certainly take it. But you need to be calm, Audrey. Sitting in this state all night will only make you sick with worry.”

Releasing one hand, he brushed back a stray strand of hair from her face. His thumb grazed her cheek and she closed her eyes for a brief moment. How in the world would she manage to relax now? One touch from Griffin Berenger made her heart throb and her whole body feel weightless and out of control. The very last thing he inspired in her was calm.

“I–I know,” she stammered. “I only worry about you. And my brother, of course.”

With a blink, Griffin’s eyes cleared. He pulled away, but not before she saw the tension around his eyes and mouth.

“Try to find something to occupy your mind,” he continued in a strained voice while he watched her in the mirror above the fireplace. “Talk to Hannah or read a book.”

“Yes, Griffin,” she whispered.

Their eyes met in the glass and again the discomfort appeared on his face. The awkward silence that filled the room was only broken when Noah returned with a fresh cravat around his neck.

“Ready then?”

“Be careful tonight,” she whispered, leaning up to press a kiss on her brother’s smooth-shaven cheek. In his ear, she murmured, “And take care of Griffin.”

He nodded as he broke their embrace. “We’re off then.”

He motioned to Griffin to leave the room first. At the doorway, Griffin paused to look back at her for a moment. Then they were both gone, disappearing out the front door into the cool night air. Toward possible danger in a place where she wasn’t allowed to follow.

The thought gave her a shiver as she sat down in one of the chairs by the fire and stared into the flames. It would be a long night, and now she had to find something to do to fill the long hours while the two men were gone.

***

The clock in the hallway began to chime. Audrey looked up from her book to listen to the number. One, two, three… twelve. Midnight. With each hour Griffin and Noah were away, her anxiety increased.

With a small sigh, she turned back to the page in her novel, but quickly tossed it aside. She had been reading the same words over and over for two hours and still had no idea who the main characters in the story were. Even Hannah had tired of her constant pacing and retired to bed.

The house was far too quiet for Audrey’s taste. The only sounds were the crackling fire and the tick of the clock in the hallway. With a groan of frustration, she rose to fix herself a sherry. She was just about to sit back down when she heard a soft sound from outside the window. She strained to hear it and was rewarded by the creak of wood and the crackle of feet against leaves or dry branches.

There was definitely an intruder outside.

Freezing instinctively, she sent a side-glance toward the glass. The glare of the lamps inside made it impossible for her to get a clear view, but anyone outside could see her movements with no hindrance.

As nonchalantly as she could, she set her tumbler down and strolled over to the fireplace. The poker would make a fine weapon if a trespasser were so bold as to enter the house. She clutched at it, prodding the fire absently as she continued to glance from time to time toward the window.

The noise came again, a scuffling then a creaking as whoever was outside began to work at the windowpane in an effort to open it. Her heart leapt to her throat and she faced the window head on. She raised the poker at her side, ready to swing if she needed to.

“Who’s out there?” she snapped as the pane began to rise. There was no answer but a black-gloved hand wrapped around the frame. “Damn it, who are… Jean?”

Her poker hit the floor with a clatter as the man climbed inside and flashed her a quick grin. One she knew well, just as she knew his sparkling gray eyes and shaggy brown hair that was always a touch too long.

“Jean!”

“You are becoming too soft with all this London nonsense, Audrey. That was enough noise to send the entire house running!” he said, his French accent thick with laughter.

Audrey crossed the room to close the window behind him. “What are you doing here? I thought you were trapped in Paris.”

“Non,” the man said with a frown, running his gloved hand through thick, dark hair. “Thank God for Lord Golding. When he heard of my plight he smuggled me out and brought me here.”

Emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Jean Beaumonte had been a friend and sometime partner while she and Noah worked undercover in France. He’d worked hard against Napoleon and suffered greatly for it. Identified after the war as a traitor, he’d been in grave danger. Seeing him standing before her with a crooked, sad smile on his handsome face was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

“My dear friend,” she finally choked out, motioning to one of the chairs by the fire.

As he sat down with a weary sigh, she closed the sitting room door and poured him a drink. Settling back into her seat, she looked at him closely. Since the last time they were together he’d lost weight and his eyes were rimmed dark from lack of sleep.

“What is going on, Jean? Shouldn’t you be hiding out somewhere until you can return to France?”

“That would be my greatest wish, but I am afraid I will never be able to return to my homeland.” His face fell as an unfathomable sadness filled his dark eyes. “I was in hiding until Lord Golding asked me to assist you and Noah with your investigation. I could not refuse when such good friends were the ones I would be aiding.”

Again she smiled, thinking of all the good times she, Noah and Hannah had spent with Jean over the years. “I feel better knowing you’re on our side, even if it can’t be in public. What are you doing?”

“I was to be on a search of Ellison’s house, but I was nearly caught by a servant so I didn’t find anything to implicate any others in his gang. I decided to see you. And here I am.” He finished with a swig of his drink.

“I’m glad, my friend. But I’m sorry you couldn’t find anything in Ellison’s residence,” she said with a soft sigh. “I’d hoped we could finish this assignment quickly. Even more so now that you’re in danger. You’ll find the English have as little love for you as the French, I’m afraid.”

With a frown, Jean nodded. “That is why it is good that I have a passable English accent. Don’t I?”

Audrey giggled at Jean’s attempt at a British accent and nodded. “It’s almost as good as Noah’s French accent.”

Jean’s face fell into a teasing scowl. “Your brother can capture none of the subtle nuances or beauty of my people’s speech. He sounds like he is strangling a cat!”

Audrey’s giggle turned to a full-bore belly laugh. Jean was right, when Noah was alone with them his French accent was deplorable. Only under the pressure of an assignment could he manage it properly.

“I won’t tell him you said that.” She glanced around, pretending she was checking for her brother. “Nor will I tell him I agree with you.”

Jean stared at her for a long moment, his eyes drifting over her face with affection. “Tell me again, why you will not marry me.”

Freezing, Audrey stood and paced away to the fireplace. In France, Jean had asked her to marry him several times, despite her gentle refusal each time.

“Oh Jean, you already know the reasons why,” she said as she plucked at her sleeve.

“Tell me again,” he ordered with a smile in his tone. “I cannot remember them.”

“Liar.” She laughed, despite how uncomfortable the conversation made her. “I won’t marry you because neither of us loves the other.”

“That is not true,” Jean insisted, standing up to come closer to her. “I care for you a great deal and respect you even more, which is better than most marriages. I find you attractive. What could be a better match than that?”

Audrey shook her head. “One of us or both of us would only end up hurt if we married. No, I won’t marry unless I love the man and he loves me equally. And that is not our relationship, Jean.”

She paused as an image of Griffin leapt to her mind. When she spoke again, her words were soft. “I know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you in return. I couldn’t go through that again. Or be the one who caused such pain.”

Jean gave a theatrical sigh. “Alas, I feared your thoughts on that subject remained unchanged.”

“Jean.” She stepped closer and smiled up at him. “I am glad you’re here. I’m glad you’ll be helping us, even if we cannot work as closely together as we have in the past.”

He grinned in reply and she kissed him, first on one cheek, then the other.

The slam of the door beside them made them each leap back. Jean took a fighter’s stance, while Audrey spun around to face their intruder.

Griffin stood framed in the doorway.

He looked furious, his eyes flashing and his face darkening redder with every moment that passed. She’d never seen him so angry, even when he’d overheard Ellison had kissed her in the carriage. Now he looked ready to kill.

“This is what you do to occupy your mind while you wait for your brother and me to return?” His voice was choked and tight.

She winced while she took a step forward and held out her hand to explain.

With a growl, he backed away and looked at her with eyes full of disgust. “Don’t let me interrupt you. You and your lover are free to carry on, though I’d appreciate it if you took your little tryst upstairs. The servants could wander in at any time and I would be embarrassed for them to see such a display.”

Turning on his heel, he stormed out of the room. Audrey opened her mouth to call out after him, but couldn’t seem to make a sound as she watched him disappear from sight. For a long moment she simply stared at the empty doorway where he’d stood, then gathered her rapidly crumbling composure.

“I’m so sorry, Jean,” she whispered as she turned back. “That was our host, Griffin Berenger. He’s an old family friend and is helping us with this case. He doesn’t understand…” She trailed off as a tear began to wind its way down her cheek to her chin.

Clucking his tongue, Jean pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. She took it gladly. Wiping her eyes, she cursed herself for such a weak display in front of a man who had lost so much.

“I think he is more than a family friend, no?” Jean asked sympathetically. “Perhaps this man is the reason you have always said no when I asked you for your hand?”

“No,” Audrey denied even as the sting of truth cut through her heart. “He can only ever be a family friend. He’s made that abundantly clear to me.”

Jean smiled, a bemused expression that made her suddenly feel young and inexperienced. “Dear, sweet Audrey. These are not the actions of a simple friend. That was a man who thinks something has been taken that should be his. But for now, dry your tears. I am not offended by his outburst.”

“Well, I am!” She bunched the handkerchief into a ball as her embarrassment transformed turned to anger.

“Then go and tell him so,” Jean said with a shrug. “See how he reacts and perhaps you will see that I am right. Either way, I must go. I have stayed too long and your friend has seen me.”

Audrey nodded. “Would you like me to sneak you out the front?”

“No.” Jean opened the window and climbed out on the ledge. “I will go the way I came. Good night, fair Audrey. Adieu.”

“Adieu, my friend,” she whispered as she shut the window.

With a harsh sigh, she turned to the doorway. It might take all her energy, but she and Griffin Berenger were going to have it out, once and for all.