The Secrets of a Lady

Chapter Fourteen

“What do you have there?” Noah asked as he stepped into the sitting room.

Raising his head a fraction, Griffin gave his friend a quick glance then returned to the letter in his hand. The handwriting was the small, soft swirl of his mother and the paper smelled faintly of her cologne water.

“It’s from my mother, asking me about your visit,” he explained. “My parents are very interested in why you and Audrey are staying here.”

Noah poured himself a cup of tea with a frown. “What have you told them?”

“Only what everyone else knows,” Griffin replied. “That your estate is under renovation and that you wished to stay in London during the festivities.”

Noah slanted him a hooded look. “And you think they doubt that explanation?”

“I don’t know.” Griffin sighed. “It’s hard to tell with them. Mother seems to be asking me questions without actually asking them. She knows I wanted nothing to do with London society so soon after Luci’s death.”

His friend gave him an apologetic glance. “I’m aware of what a hell these past few months have been for you. I never would have brought you into this mess if it weren’t absolutely necessary.”

Griffin refolded the letter and stuffed it in his pocket. “But you still would have taken the case. Audrey would still be the bait for your trap.”

Noah set his cup down on its saucer with a clatter. “Griffin…”

He rolled his eyes. “I know, I know. You’ve explained it to me several times.”

Noah paused for a moment and examined Griffin with a particularly close stare. “You care for her a great deal.”

He took a long sip of tea with what he hoped was nonchalant detachment. “For whom?”

Noah arched an eyebrow with a half-smile. “For Audrey. How long have you cared for her so much?”

“I care for Audrey as any good friend would. And I’ve been her friend for nearly her whole life, haven’t I?”

“No, it’s more than that,” Noah said with a shake of his dark head. “This is more than friendship. More than even lust.”

“You shouldn’t speak of such things.”

Griffin found himself unwilling to discuss his relationship with Audrey, even with his best friend. Especially with his best friend. After all, it couldn’t be proper to tell her own brother that he was obsessed with thoughts of Audrey. That each time she left the room, especially with Douglas Ellison, he was tormented.

“Then what should I speak of?” Noah asked in exasperation. “Very well, Wellington’s presentation to the Queen. Would that be a benign enough topic for you? Will you call Douglas Ellison out, or allow my sister to perform her duty?”

Griffin gave an answering shrug. “She’ll be in a crowded room with the Queen’s guard and both of us standing by. I won’t be happy about it, but I won’t interfere.”

“Good. This will all be over soon enough.” Noah sat down and folded his arms. “And then you can return to your normal life with both our apologies and thanks.”

Griffin frowned at the thought of what his life would be like when Audrey and Noah’s case was over. Audrey would be gone, out of his life as if she’d never lived in his home or made love to him.

And what if there was a child? He hadn’t given much thought to it at the time, but he’d taken no precautions to keep Audrey from having his baby. Right now his son or daughter could be growing within her. If she left, she could easily hide the truth from him in order to continue her life as a spy.

“What’s wrong?”

Griffin started at the intrusion into his thoughts. “Wrong?”

His friend’s concerned frown lengthened with displeasure. “You look sick. What is it?”

“Nothing.” He wasn’t ready to talk about any of his thoughts with Noah. How could he? “I was just thinking about some choices I’ve made. And choices I have yet to make.”

Noah looked less than convinced, but stood up with a shrug. “I should go get ready for the presentation and ball. I’d suggest you do the same.”

Waving his friend off, Griffin rubbed his eyes. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Noah hesitated, then shook his head and left the room without any more comment. With a sigh of relief, Griffin crossed to the window and opened it. Outside the air was warm and still, heavy with humidity as the clouds gathered in the distance.

As the breeze ruffled his hair, Griffin continued to ponder his relationship with Audrey. He’d been wrong to take her innocence with no promise of a future. Yet he couldn’t seem to help himself when she was near. He needed to touch her, to be with her. And not just because he wanted her in his bed, but because he’d grown accustomed to her presence in his life. The thought of her leaving was troubling.

“I suppose I could marry her,” he muttered with a laugh at the thought.

At Luci’s grave, he’d sworn time and again not to marry a second time. In the months since her death, though, the anger behind that bitter promise had faded, and the reality of his position had returned. He would be forced to marry someday, if only to continue his bloodline. But he’d never thought he would consider marriage so soon. Or marry a woman he desired and cared for so deeply.

That was the difficulty. He cared for Audrey, but did he love her? Was he even ready for love after everything Luci had put him through? At the moment, he wasn’t sure. What he was sure of was that Audrey would be true to him.

Suddenly the sarcastic joke he’d made to himself seemed less amusing. Marrying Audrey was the proper thing to do after what had transpired between them. It was also beginning to seem like the right thing to do for his future.

With a shake of his head, Griffin crossed the room and began to ascend the stairway. He still needed to prepare for the ball and the thoughts spinning in his head were just too much. Tonight he would speak to Audrey, and he was certain she would see the logic in his newly developing plans.

***

With a quick turn of her ankle and a flip of her spring green skirt, Audrey stepped from the carriage. She gave Noah a small smile as she took his arm, then they made their way up the long walkway to Buckingham House where the Queen was to receive Wellington.

The house was the Queen’s main residence. It was utterly enchanting, even to Audrey who normally didn’t pay much attention to the estates of the rich and powerful. She’d learned over time that the beauty of a building said nothing about the goodness of the inhabitants. But Buckingham House was hard not to admire.

Greek-style pillars embossed with leafing at the top and bottom supported the square building. Carriages filled the circular drive and a line of people entered the door at the top of the short stairway. Light from the windows streamed out, highlighting the many outside buildings that housed servants, horses and vehicles.

Griffin stepped down from the carriage behind her and gazed around him. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it? Despite the clouds.”

Audrey had to wonder at the sly smile he sent in her direction. He’d been behaving strangely all night, tossing her looks and saying cryptic things. She couldn’t believe it all had to do with her promise to come to him that night.

A strange flutter went through her at the thought. In the carriage, their lovemaking had been spontaneous and animal. Tonight, there would be time for savoring each moment.

“Are you coming, or…?” Noah’s voice forced her wandering thoughts back to the present.

She started when she realized she had stopped dead still in a haze. “I apologize, I was woolgathering.”

This was far too dangerous a situation to be sidetracked by thoughts of Griffin. She tossed one fleeting glance over her shoulder at the man and gave a little shiver. No matter how pleasant daydreams of him were, she had to concentrate on her mission.

The doors to Buckingham House opened and their group stepped inside the foyer. Already it was crowded with people milling about as they waited to be announced by the tailored footman at the entrance to the main throne room. Noah sighed as he released her arm and turned back to Griffin.

“Any way to move us up in line for the announcement, you think?” he asked.

Griffin shrugged one shoulder. “I doubt it. There are so many people of rank here, mine wouldn’t be all that impressive in comparison.”

“Hmmm.” Noah scanned the crowd, his blue eyes jumping from one party of invitees to the next until finally they settled and he gave a little smile. “Well, well, well.”

“What is it?” Audrey peeked over her shoulder at the group Noah was looking at. When she saw who it was, she gave a little grumble of exasperation. Noah was staring at one of the most beautiful and scandalous widows in the ton. Lady Charlton wore a red dress, her abundant cleavage spilling over the top as she leaned forward and laughed at something one of her many male companions had said.

“I must go say hello.” Noah straightened his cravat. “Griffin, you won’t mind keeping Audrey company, will you?”

Before Griffin could get out the entire word “no”, Noah was gone.

“How is it that he even gets any work done?”

Audrey folded her arms in displeasure before realizing they wrinkled her gown and returned them to her sides.

“I think he does it to watch you get so affronted,” Griffin said with a wide grin. “I’m certainly enjoying it.”

“He never takes anything seriously,” Audrey complained, though she knew in her heart that she could trust her brother with her life.

“And gets away with it brilliantly.” Griffin motioned to the crowd. “Look how they peel away when he approaches her.”

Griffin was right. As Noah arrived at Lady Charlton’s side, the other men around her backed away. Even though they were scowling, they recognized Noah’s power and his superiority at the little game of love they played at.

“Well,” she grumbled as she turned away. “I just hope he remembers what we’re here for tonight while he’s wooing his widow.”

“He will.”

Audrey looked at him with wide eyes at his absolute certainty.

“He always does, doesn’t he?” With a grin, Griffin offered her the crook of his arm as another couple was announced and they moved closer to the footman.

Audrey shrugged one shoulder and tried to ignore the smell of spices and heat coming from Griffin. Even as she grew frustrated at her brother for his distraction, she had to admit she was no better. Just the touch of Griffin’s hand was enough to send her heart into endless flutters and make the blood rush to her cheeks like some silly schoolgirl.

She grasped desperately for some kind of control over her emotions. “Noah… Noah tells me you’ve received a letter from your Mother.”

With a grim purse of his lips, Griffin nodded. “Yes, she asked about you.”

“Really?” Audrey was surprised. She’d never really thought her presence amounted much to anyone. “I haven’t seen your parents in years. Are they well?”

She took a calming breath as they moved into a conversation that seemed safe enough.

“Very well.” He nodded. “Both are getting on in years, but you wouldn’t know it. Mother is as beautiful as ever and father is strong as a horse. It may be my own sons that inherit from him rather than me.”

“I’m glad they’re doing so well.” Her mind drifted to the two people they discussed. Lady Ashton had always been very kind to her. As a young woman, the lady’s compassion had made her wish all the more that she would become her mother-in-law.

Griffin gave her an intense look. “After the events of this evening, I would like to talk to you in private.”

“About your Mother?” she asked, shaking herself back to the present.

“No.” He smiled. “About other things.”

She dropped her voice to a mere whisper as she glanced around her to be sure no one was listening to their conversation. “I–I already told you I would come to you tonight.”

“Yes, you did.” His tone was suddenly strained as he quickly turned away and looked off into the crowd.

“Oh, look, we’re the next to be announced.” Relief at the interruption relaxed her. The room had become far too confined and hot. “Do you see Noah anywhere?”

Griffin used his superior height to scan the crowd. “No. He must be escorting Lady Charlton. I’m sure we’ll find him inside the throne room.”

Leaning over, he whispered something to the footman, then they stepped inside.

“Viscount Berenger and Lady Audrey Jordan,” the man announced as the crowd turned to watch the two of them enter.

Audrey felt the scrutiny of the people around them as Griffin led her forward to the seats where they would watch the presentation. The women all looked jealous, while the men seemed relieved. It wasn’t often a man stayed in mourning for his wife as long as Griffin had. Audrey supposed he made the other widowers look bad for marrying again or taking on new mistresses within weeks of their wives’ deaths.

“You’re quite the catch, aren’t you?” she teased. “All the women look like they want to scratch my eyes out for being on your arm.”

Griffin helped her settle into a chair, then took his place beside her. “Or perhaps they are jealous because you are the most beautiful creature in the room.”

The pleasure from his comment warmed her from the root of her hair all the way down to the tips of her toes. The fact that Griffin found her beautiful was still a shocking one. When Audrey pictured herself, it was still as the gangly young girl who’d nearly tripped over her own feet to get close to the man at her side.

“You’re a flatterer,” she said, trying to look as if the comment hadn’t affected her so much.

“I tell the truth.” His tone didn’t return her teasing. Turning in his chair, he looked at her straight on, forcing her eyes to meet his. “You are beautiful. And there’s no one in this room I would rather be with than you.”

As he moved to sit properly in his chair again, Audrey turned her face away. Being around Griffin was confusing. Part of her was thrilled with his attentiveness and caring toward her. The other knew their association would come to an end and leave her yearning all the more for him.

“There’s Ellison,” Griffin whispered into her ear.

She spun around to look in the direction he was indicating and found herself locking eyes with Douglas Ellison. For the first time since she’d been introduced to him three months before, the man looked furious. He was staring at Griffin with a deadly glare. Audrey recognized what Noah had told her was true. Ellison thought of Griffin as a competitor for her affections.

Her first reaction was terror. Griffin was in far more danger now than she’d suspected, for Ellison would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.

Then, slowly, the fear dulled, leaving her with the realization that this was exactly the situation she needed. If she was to manipulate Ellison into a proposal to bring her closer to him and to his secrets, using Griffin might just work.

***

“It was a lovely ceremony, don’t you think?” Lady Charlton leaned closer to Noah with a breathy sigh as she twirled a strand of blonde hair around her finger.

“Lovely,” Audrey’s tone was flat as she arched an eyebrow at her brother and rolled her eyes.

Griffin nearly laughed as her brother flashed her a grin in return and looked down at Lady Charlton with a smile. “You always find the right words to describe such an event. Always eloquent.”

The woman dissolved into girlish giggles that grated on Griffin’s ears, but he nodded in polite agreement. Noah was awful, the way he teased his sister.

“What a happy foursome we make.”

Griffin stiffened as he turned, for he already knew who he would find behind them. Douglas Ellison.

Noah beamed as he straightened up a bit. “Ellison, where were you? My sister had begun to droop without your presence.”

Audrey smiled as if nothing could be truer, sending a shot of possessive anger through Griffin.

Ellison gave Griffin a pointed, irritated glare. “Somehow I doubt that. She and Lord Berenger looked very cozy when they came into throne room.”

Audrey stepped forward to touch Ellison’s arm. “You must have been mistaken. Noah here had become… involved…” She shot another glare at her brother. “With Lady Charlton. Lord Berenger was simply kind enough to escort me in his stead. I was looking for you all over. You cannot imagine my pleasure when I saw you across the room.”

Griffin clenched his teeth as Ellison’s stern face began to soften at her lies. The man truly believed Audrey cared for him, that she was his to claim. The thought was a sickening one.

“Then I wish you’d seen me earlier so we could have been seated together. I haven’t seen you since your unfortunate disappearance at the Trafalgar reenactment.” Again, he sent a cold glare in Griffin’s direction.

Audrey smiled as she took Ellison’s arm and leaned a fraction closer to him. “Yes, I do apologize about that unfortunate incident. As I explained in my note, I began to feel a bit ill. Lord Berenger was merely being overprotective of me by taking me home.”

She slanted a quick glance in Griffin’s direction and he saw a brief apology appear in her eyes.

“Is that what happened?” Lady Charlton asked with a blank giggle. “Some people have been gossiping about it.”

Griffin clenched his teeth as Audrey’s face paled just a fraction before she smoothed away the anxiety. “Well, you know how it is, Lady Charlton. People will make up a story if they can’t find a real one, won’t they?”

Griffin couldn’t help but stifle a smile as Lady Charlton’s dim expression suddenly became aware. Of course she was thinking of the rumors that had circulated after her latest husband’s death. Some of the crueler gossips even called her the Very Merry Widow.

“Yes, that’s very true, Lady Audrey,” the blonde woman said, blinking a few times as her cheeks reddened.

Noah arched an eyebrow at his sister. “Well, I see the dancing has begun. Perhaps you would do me the honor, Lady Charlton?”

“Of course.” The young woman smiled as if there had never been a problem.

“Idiotic woman,” Ellison growled as the pair disappeared into the crowd only to reappear on the dance floor a moment later.

“She’s only repeating gossip,” Audrey said with a small sigh. “As the ton is known to do.”

Griffin noticed the slight waver at the corner of her lips and wondered if she was thinking of the rumors five years ago. The rumors his wife had created. It stoked his anger even further, and his resolve to do the right thing when it came to Audrey and her future.

Ellison nodded with a triumphant grin in Griffin’s direction. “I would love a dance with you. We could continue our discussion… in private.”

“Of course,” she said with a smile even Griffin would have taken as sincere. “If you’ll excuse us, Lord Berenger.”

He gave a quick nod, unable to speak for fear he’d say things he would later regret. Her assignment was dangerous enough without him adding his choice comments about the safety of spending time with blackguards and traitors.

As they moved out onto the dance floor, he scowled. It was even harder to watch Audrey in the arms of a madman now that he’d held her in his own. He didn’t want Ellison to have any claim on her, real or imagined.

Holding back a colorful curse, Griffin headed across the ballroom to the back where the porters were handing out champagne. It wasn’t exactly a strong brew, but it would do to take the edge of the rage boiling in his chest. He took two glasses and skulked to the back of the room. The last thing he wanted was to be noticed by the straining Mamas and hauled out to dance by a string of tittering, foolish girls.

Just as he reached the back corner of the room, he heard a laugh. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary in a crowd, but the sound froze him mid-stride. As he slowly turned to face the noise, his mouth came open in shock. There, not ten feet away from him, was his mother.