The Secrets of a Lady (13 page)

“My dear brother,” she answered with a shake of her head. “When will you and Griffin Berenger and the rest of the world learn I don’t need saving?”

Holding back a grimace, Audrey put her hands into his and forced a smile to her face. “I haven’t seen you since that night at the opera. I must admit I missed your most pleasant company.”

“As I’ve missed yours.” Ellison motioned to the place beside him on the ottoman.

Audrey hesitated, but then gave in to his request. She had to pick her battles if she was to defeat Douglas Ellison. No doubt he would be offended and suspicious if she avoided him physically. After all, he was supposed to be courting her.

God help her, she was supposed to behave as if she welcomed that courtship. Briefly closing her eyes, she tried to think of what made her body react with pleasure, not distaste. The only thing that came to mind was Griffin.

Griffin running his hands up and down her body. Holding her mouth captive with his own. Making her ache with longing from her head to her toes. And Griffin doing the things to her that Hannah had described a few days before. Interesting, titillating things that made her toes curl when she dared to think of them for more than a brief moment.

As she smoothed her skirts and nodded to the maid who poured their tea, Audrey tried to clear thoughts of Griffin from her head. He was only a distraction, a danger to the game of cat and mouse she was playing.

After the maid had gone, Douglas turned to her with gleaming gray eyes. “I must admit after our last encounter, I wondered if you would ever speak to me again.”

“You mean because you were so forward?” She somehow managed to keep her tone light and flirtatious.

“Yes.” He edged closer to her on the narrow couch and she just barely reined in her desire to move away an equal distance.

“I don’t condone that kind of behavior in my suitors, but I do understand how one could get swept away in a moment. After all, we’d just experienced the romance of the opera.” She nearly choked on her own insincerity.

“I’m glad you understand,” Ellison replied with a sigh of relief. “It’s difficult for a man of a certain age and disposition not to be driven to distraction by a beautiful woman such as you.”

With a pause, she calculated her next move. She needed to say or do something that would encourage Ellison to trust her, but wouldn’t give him the impression she wanted him to touch her again.

“Thank you, Douglas, er Mr. Ellison.”

A thin smile turned up his lips. “Of course you must call me by my given name, Audrey. Our friendship has progressed to a point where that kind of familiarity might be expected.”

Blushing, she shook her head and dropped her eyes. “Oh, Mr. Ellison, I’m not sure.”

“If you’re uncomfortable with calling me by my name in public, perhaps you’ll only do so in private,” he offered with a light touch of his hand on hers. It was cold and slightly clammy, reminding Audrey of a fish at market.

“Hmmm.” She pretended to ponder the inappropriate request. “Do you mean like a secret between us,
Douglas
?”

One corner of his lips bobbed up in triumph. “Yes, exactly.”

She batted her eyes just a flutter and looked at him with a slow smile. “Very well. I trust you enough to share a secret with you. I hope you feel the same way about me.”

“I do, Audrey.” Now his voice was deathly serious and he leaned forward a fraction, his eyelids heavy with what she now recognized as desire.

With a shiver, she stood up. “Now, Douglas, I see that same gleam in your eye that was there the night of the opera. I hope you understand if I don’t include passionate embraces as part of our relationship… at least not yet. A lady must protect her reputation, you know.”

With a purse of his lips, he sank back against the ottoman. “Of course. Your reputation was part of what drew me to you.”

“W-Well,” she stammered. “I’m glad I meet with your approval then. And that you understand my position.”

“Of course,” he said with a smooth smile she didn’t trust for even a moment. For the first time, she realized he would take what he wanted if it wouldn’t be given freely. He was only biding his time to have her.

She shifted uncomfortably. “It has been more than quarter of an hour.”

For once she was happy for the societal rules that said a man shouldn’t call for very long. Despite not learning anything useful about Ellison, she wanted him far away from her.

One of his eyebrows arched at her not-so-delicate hint and his eyes hardened. “Are you counting the minutes so closely, Audrey?”

With a quick internal curse, she returned to her seat. “Of course not,” she insisted. “But my brother and Lord Berenger may be. They’re both very protective of me.”

At that, Ellison straightened up and his nostrils flared. “Yes, I’ve noticed Lord Berenger’s ‘protective’ nature toward you at the opera. Are you certain you can trust
him
, my dear?”

“Whatever do you mean?” She felt a ridiculous impulse to defend Griffin. “Lord Berenger poses no threat to me.”

“I wonder. After all, the man should be coming out of mourning soon and here you are, right down the hallway from him.” Ellison’s eyes narrowed. “You would be easy enough prey.”

Audrey gave an affronted frown. “Mr. Ellison, do you really think I would allow you to court me while I gave Lord Berenger some kind of liberties? Is
that
the kind of woman you take me for?”

Ellison shook his head. “No, of course not. As I said a moment ago, I have every faith in you. It is Berenger I don’t trust.”

She said nothing, but turned her face so she wouldn’t reveal too much of the truth.

Ellison leaned closer. “Why don’t you and your brother consider leaving this house and coming to stay with me at my estate? You could enjoy my hospitality without bearing any of Berenger’s unwanted attentions.”

Audrey barely held back a laugh of contempt. Little did the bastard know that it was his attentions that gave her nightmares.

“Douglas…”

“Consider it,” he interrupted with an intense stare deep into her eyes. “Say you’ll consider it and I will believe you don’t wish Berenger to court you.”

Her blood ran cold. Ellison was asking her to choose between the two men. If she didn’t promise to mull over his dangerous offer, he would take it that she was picking Griffin.

As soon as Ellison had departed the house, Griffin entered the sitting room in three long strides. “Why do you insist on putting yourself in danger?”

Audrey spun around from the mantel with wide, blue eyes.

“You startled me.”

She placed a hand on her heart and drew his gaze to the soft curves of her body. The woman was a damned distraction, and the way she made him feel when she touched him could only bring him trouble in the end.

“What should startle you is the way Ellison is reeling you in like a fish on a hook.” He waved his hand in the general direction of the blackguard’s home. “Why don’t you just strip down and wait for him in his bed, Audrey? Or better yet, load up a gun and let him fire away once he discovers you’ve been playing games with him?”

Her face darkened a shade, but he could see the hurt in her eyes as well as the anger at his sharp comment.

“Griffin,” she whispered. “That’s enough.”

“I agree. That is enough. You just promised a murderer and a traitor that you would consider moving yourself into his home and out of the modicum of protection you enjoy in these walls.”

“You were eavesdropping on my investigation?” she asked, her mouth dropping open in disbelief.

“No, I was passing by the door when you made your ridiculous vow.” He tilted his head. “And you’re avoiding the subject.”

“There wasn’t any choice.” She let out a long sigh. “Ellison believes you’re preying on my virtue. I told him I would
consider
moving to his home.”

“And you see no harm in that?”

“It’s a ruse to keep the man happy for the time being. A few words from Noah and it will all be avoided.” She turned away, but not before Griffin saw how tired she looked.

He bit back a heated retort and sat down in the closest chair. He hated to make her look so sad and defeated, but she didn’t seem to grasp the danger of what she was doing.

“You and your brother are so nonchalant about this operation,” he said. “But I cannot watch you march into the lion’s den with no armor, Audrey.”

“Don’t you see, I don’t give a damn about your case any longer.” Griffin wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. Wanted to press his lips against hers and show her just how serious he was. “I
can’t
watch you harm yourself.”

“But if you go, we’ll have no chance to catch Ellison. Not only that, but he might even guess that my relationship with him was all a ruse. I’ll be in more danger then.” Her hand stirred at her side as if she wanted to take his.

Griffin wished she would. He wanted her to choose him over her case. Not that he would know what to do if she did. He still had no future to offer her.

“I want to protect you.”

“Help me protect our country and our Prince.” Her body swayed in his direction before she snapped back. “And that will protect me. Together we can beat Ellison.”

“Together.”

His body relaxed at that thought. He pushed to his feet and moved toward her. She tracked his every step and her breath shortened when he reached her. Against his better judgment and all the promises he’d made, he brought his hand down to brush her cheek gently. Her skin was soft and smooth beneath his rough fingertips, like the finest satin.

Audrey gave a soft sigh, almost a whimper, and closed her eyes for a brief moment to lean into his hand.

“Audrey!”

Griffin turned to see Noah standing in the doorway, both hands on his hips and eyes dark with anger. Breaking away from her, Griffin stifled a groan at his own stupidity. Here he’d promised not to touch Audrey again and he couldn’t seem to help himself.

“Noah.” She took a few steps toward her brother, her face darkening and her eyes wide. “Please.”

“I’d like to speak with you for a moment,” Noah said, looking evenly at Griffin though he spoke to Audrey.

Griffin held the gaze without blinking, feeling part foolish he’d betrayed his friend, and part defiant. Audrey had a right to choose whom she wanted in her life, Noah be damned.

Throwing a quick glance over her shoulder, Audrey met his eyes and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

He smiled at her briefly, then watched her walk away after her brother. He wondered how he’d ever manage to let her leave permanently.

***

“What the hell are you doing, Audrey?” Noah shut his door behind them and gave her an exasperated stare.

“Nothing,” she said, though her emotions belied her statement. Her cheek still tingled where Griffin had touched her, and her heart throbbed when she thought of the tender look in his eyes.

“It can lead to nothing, of that I’m sure.” Noah walked to his window to lean against the glass. He crossed his arms and looked at her expectantly. “At least tell me
why
you’re doing this?”

Fidgeting against his pointed stare, she snapped, “I’m doing my job, Noah, nothing more. Well, my job and trying to stay out of Griffin’s way just as he asked me.”

“Ha!” Noah shook his head. “If anything you’re settling yourself
into
Griffin’s life, not removing yourself from it.”

Her cheeks flamed. “How?”

Somehow she’d hoped her growing feelings for Griffin weren’t as clear to everyone else as they were to her. She’d tried to avoid doing things that would draw attention to her heart, but sometimes they were inevitable. Like that moment in the drawing room. How was she to know Noah was watching?

“I see you studying Griffin. Whenever he comes into a room, you can’t keep your eyes off him.” Her brother arched an eyebrow.

Giving an exasperated sigh, she said nothing. There was no use trying to lie to her shrewd brother.

“When you talk to him, you touch his arm, you lean in close to him. I don’t think you even realize you do it,” he continued. “My God, you act like you might have a future with the man.”

She winced at his harsh words, though she knew he meant well and was right in his assessment. Despite her better judgment, she was finding herself drawn into Griffin’s existence each day.

“Do you really want to set yourself up for the kind of heartache you experienced five years ago? Griffin is attracted to you, he may even care for you, but after everything he’s been through, he’ll never be able to give you what you want. Or what you need.” Noah’s expression relaxed and he looked at her with the pure love of a concerned brother. “Do you want to go through that hurt again?”

“No,” she whispered. “Of course not.”

Noah straightened up and opened his arms. Though his words made her prickle with defensiveness, she walked into his embrace and allowed him to hug her.