The Secrets of a Lady (30 page)

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 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.”

“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.”

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.