The Secrets of a Lady

Chapter Nineteen

“I must say, I’m glad your host decided to stay home,” Douglas Ellison said, as he spun Audrey around the crowded dance floor. “I do get tired of having to anticipate his interruptions all evening.”

“Grif…” She could only pray Douglas hadn’t heard that slip. “Lord Berenger is harmless.”

She bit back a bark of laughter as the comment left her lips. Griffin was anything but harmless. He was like a lion stalking through his territory and clearing out any interlopers. If Douglas Ellison couldn’t see that himself, he was a greater fool than she had ever imagined.

Ellison seemed to consider her comment for a moment, then shrugged one shoulder. “You are here with me, aren’t you?”

“Exactly.” She gave him a flirtatious look she only now understood the full power of. Before she made love with Griffin she hadn’t really grasped the control her femininity could hold over a man. She’d never understood the long stares from men, the way they leaned closer when a woman talked. Now she did and was forced to use those wiles on Douglas Ellison. A disgusting thought to say the least.

She shook off her private musings to refocus on matters at hand. “We should talk about more pleasant things. Have you seen the Prince yet this evening?”

Ellison’s gray eyes suddenly glittered with emotion. His thin smile turned to a frown.

“Of course. Who can help but look at him as soon as he enters the room? Surrounded by people, dressed like a peacock on parade. The man is a buffoon.”

“Hmmm.” She hoped to sound noncommittal as well as encouraging. “I suppose he does stand out. His guards alone make him a spectacle.”

She smiled as she caught a glimpse of one of the guards. She and Noah had worked so hard to make sure the Prince and his guests had a large duty to protect them. The Prince had argued, but eventually had caved in to Lord Golding’s convincing words.

“Guards?” Ellison scoffed. “As if they make any difference.”

“What do you mean?”

She slowly turned back to Ellison. His face was unreadable, stoic. Yet the way he’d made his statement, so certain, made her heart lodge in her throat. It was almost as if he already had a plan.

“If someone really wants to assassinate a leader,” Ellison said with a cool smile. “A few guards won’t stop him. Nothing will.”

Audrey shivered despite the heat of the crowded ballroom. What she saw in Ellison’s eyes was so angry, so full of hatred that she could hardly bear to look at it.

“You sound very sure of that,” she managed to stammer out. “I wonder, though, why so many people seem to hate His Royal Highness?”

Douglas’s eyes refocused on her as he gave her a condescending grin. Again she was happy most men assumed women didn’t understand politics. It gave her the upper hand with Ellison. After all, there was no harm giving away secrets to a person he didn’t believe could do anything with them.

“Aside from his stupidity and his propensity to cling to the opinions of others like the weakling he is, many people were invested heavily in the war with France. And with Napoleon.”

Drawing back slightly, Audrey observed Ellison’s face. He was entirely focused on the paunchy man across the room, his gray eyes boring into him with an intensity that was as frightening as it was unwavering.

She batted her eyelashes in a pretend show of naivety. “I didn’t know anyone could profit from a war.”

Again, he glanced back at her. “Well, people buy and sell commissions in the Army and Navy every day. And there are more nefarious businesses, as well. Those who trade arms and secrets with the enemy.”

She found herself holding her breath and had to force herself to draw in air. Was he about to admit he was a traitor?

“You sound as if you know this from personal experience.”

She chose her words with great care. The last thing she wanted to do was frighten him away from the subject now that they were getting to the meat of the issue. Close to the whole reason she was in London in the first place.

His pompous smile fell. “I don’t know if I’d go that far. I do have… associates who might have some dealings such as those.”

“Really?” She tamped down her eagerness to demand a list of names. “I find it difficult to believe I might live and walk amongst men involved in such dangerous business.”

Arching an eyebrow, he gave her an appraising stare. With a quick breath, she decided to take a chance and press further.

“It’s a bit… thrilling,” she added, watching his pupils dilate with what she now knew to be desire. Her stomach lurched in response but she managed to keep the nausea at bay and give him a stunning smile. The opportunity to hear him say even one contact’s name was worth any price.

“Truly?” His voice was full of sudden admiration. “You find it to be thrilling?”

She bowed her head with a forced blush. “There is a certain adventure to it all.”

His smiled widened. “I never thought you had it in you, Audrey. I must say, this is a side to you I’d never imagined, but I quite like it.”

“I’d never dare tell anyone I felt that way.” Drawing a deep breath, she leaned forward. “Unless I truly trusted them.” She dropped her voice. “But my feelings about our Regent aren’t exactly tender, either.”

She was pleased when Ellison’s eyes narrowed as he glanced around the room. “There are too many people here to discuss this,” he whispered. “If you were overheard you could be called a traitor and hung for treason. But would you accompany me to the gardens?”

“Of course.” She was breathless not because of the deep feelings she had for the man beside her, but because she felt so close to the secrets she needed to unveil.

As Douglas led her through the crowd on the floor and the parameter, Audrey scanned the room for her brother. She wanted to catch Noah’s eye so he’d know she was leaving so her brother could follow at a safe distance to hear whatever Ellison said. And save her if the man became dangerous in any way.

But Douglas seemed determined to be alone with her as soon as possible. His grip on her arm tightened and he nearly knocked down several old women in his hurry to get through the veranda doors. Audrey hardly had a chance to look at half the room, let alone find and signal to her brother.

The thought was troubling, but she couldn’t refuse now that she’d gone so far. Besides, she had handled Douglas and his advances before.

“There’s no hurry, is there?” She pulled back against his arm. “We’ve all night to talk.”

He slowed his pace with a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, my dear. I get carried away sometimes by your beauty.”

“Thank you,” she ground out.

At the beginning of the garden pathway oriental style lamps were lit, sticking up from large stakes thrust into the soft earth. It was a practical way to illuminate the trail, while giving respect to the Prince’s love for all things Asian.

The garden was scattered with groups of people and pairs of couples, looking at the moon, admiring the well-tended lawns and hedges, or simply staring into each other’s eyes as they enjoyed a rare stolen moment alone. From time to time peals of laughter echoed around them.

Audrey wasn’t afraid. After all, Ellison would never try anything untoward with her in front of such a large group of people. His need for social acceptance would rein in whatever lust he felt.

But as they walked further and further from the house, into darker and darker territory on the massive lawn, her anxiety grew. Soon the voice of the other couples faded away, leaving behind only the occasional squeak of crickets.

“Douglas, do we really need to stray so far from the house?”

His grin was a quick and sinister one, flashed only for a moment before he continued on toward what looked like an abandoned gazebo on the far end of the garden.

“If we’re to discuss treachery and danger, we must do it in darkness and out of the public eye, don’t you think?” he asked. “After all, it was you who said you wouldn’t want anyone to know you found that life a little thrilling.”

“I suppose.” Her shoulders were trembling despite her shawl and the warmth of the summer night. “But I wouldn’t want anyone to walk in on us and have the wrong impression. We both have reputations, you know.”

She hoped her reference to his place in the world would remind him to be careful, but he gave her another menacing smile instead.

“You needn’t worry about that. No one will walk in on anything. They’re too busy admiring the wealth they find at the top of the path.” He lowered his voice as he continued, “It takes a different kind of person to go beyond the beginning of the road, don’t you think? Someone with the adventurous spirit you seem so enamored with.”

They’d reached the gazebo now and he helped her up the stairs. It truly was abandoned, unpainted and left to rot probably since the newer, larger building had been built closer to the house.

“I don’t know that I’m enamored with adventure,” she said. In fact she felt a strong dislike for it coming on, despite her years of spying. “I simply thought it was interesting, that’s all.”

“Don’t.” Ellison motioned to a bench where they both sat. Audrey tried to put a decent amount of distance between them, but Ellison had put her near the edge of the bench, giving her little room to maneuver unless she wanted to fall off the seat.

“Don’t?” she repeated, actually willing her teeth not to chatter with nervousness.

“Don’t back away from what you said earlier.” As he spoke, he reached out for her hand. Even though she wore gloves, Audrey imagined she could feel the damp coldness of his fingertips seeping through the fabric. “You said you were thrilled by the prospect of underhanded dealing and trading with the enemy.”

“I-it must be a fascinating world.”

Fascinating? No. Over the years she had seen the underbelly of society in England and on the continent. Though many of the crooks put on a pretty face, their lives were lived in fear. Fear of being captured, fear of being killed. Their families were in constant danger. Danger they often didn’t recognize until it was too late. Those were desperate men, just as the man beside her was desperate. His eyes had the wild look to them she’d seen too often before.

“It is a fascinating world,” he murmured, his face moving ever closer to hers.

She inched away just as subtly. “How do you know?”

His smile was slow and sardonic. “Never mind. It’s best for the women and children to be kept out of the details of one’s business. But if you want danger, or a hint of it at least, I can give you that.”

Audrey blinked. What she wanted was for her brother to come save her. She wanted Griffin’s arms around her, holding her tight and reassuring her he’d never let her come to harm, not under his roof. She wanted this evening and this case to be over.

“I’m sure you can.” She laughed as if all that was transpiring between them was no more than a jest. “But aren’t there others?”

“Of course,” he said, but his tone was suddenly impatient.

In response, she rose to her feet to pace closer to the stairway of the gazebo. She wondered if anyone would hear her cry out so far away from the house.

“Who?” Finger by finger, she clenched and unclenched her hands behind her back. “I’m so interested to see which of my acquaintances are behind some kind of ploy.”

One of his thin eyebrows arched up. “And why is that? Why are you so interested in my associates?”

She froze as her heart lodged in her throat to prevent her answer. The world felt as if it had slowed to half time, spinning around her in distant motion. Like she was under water. Her cover was about to be blown if she didn’t find the right words. Right now.

“I…”

His eyes lit up as he stood to come closer to her. Closer. Closer.

“I believe I just realized why. You’ve asked about my associates…” he paused, reaching out to cup her cheek. For a brief moment, she wondered if he was going to strangle her and leave her body in the gazebo to be found by servants the next day.

Then he leaned closer. “Because you’re afraid of how you feel for me.”

The air left her lungs in a whoosh as Douglas Ellison’s hand locked on her waist, while the one on her face pulled her closer for a kiss. He was rough, forceful in the way he ground his lips against hers.

“No!” With all her might, she pushed against his unyielding chest. For such a thin man, he was stronger than he looked. “Stop!”

Damn her cover. She didn’t care if he found out she was a spy. She wanted to get away, away from his breath in her mouth and his hands gripping her arms, bruising her.

“Don’t fight this Audrey,” he murmured. She squirmed in disgust when he dipped his tongue into her ear. “I promise to make you my wife, so what happens here makes no difference.”

“Stop,” she insisted, but this time her voice felt much weaker.

Despite her training and the strength she’d acquired over the years, her body seemed to be shutting down. Refusing to fight against a man who was much too strong.

Her mind went back to the night long ago when another man had pinned her arms the way they were pinned now, had kissed her the way Douglas kissed her now. That night they’d been interrupted by her mother’s shrill voice. She had been saved, ironically, by Luci’s blackmail.

Tonight, no salvation would come. She could scream all she wanted, but no one would hear. Noah hadn’t seen her leave, so he wouldn’t know where to look for her even if the did notice she was gone too long. And Griffin, who seemed to sense any time she was in trouble, wasn’t there to save her.

In the past, she’d been able to fight Douglas because he would never go too far. There were too many chances to be caught. Now there were none and all the fighting in the world wouldn’t stop him.

And with that realization, she went limp.

***

“Why the hell are we stopping?”

Griffin wrenched the carriage window open and immediately saw the reason. A wagon carrying barrels of ale had flipped over on one the narrow streets and the gutters were now filled with the sweet alcohol. Several men from the local pubs had come out and were taking their spirits directly from the drains.

Griffin pulled his head back in with a shiver as he tried not to contemplate what else rolled in those gutters. He snapped the curtains shut.

“No wonder disease is rampant in this city.”

The carriage was quiet except for the calls of his driver to the driver of the cart. Occasionally he heard the whoops of the drunken men. But it was quiet enough that his mind could wander away from his current location.

Where it took him was dangerous. It wandered, as always, to Audrey.

Audrey curled up in his arms, her red hair spread over his chest and her warmth filling him. Audrey dancing with him, smiling up at him with eyes shining as she laughed.

Or worse, Audrey in Douglas Ellison’s arms, dancing with him, her eyes shining even though it was a ruse. But Ellison was dangerous and bold. Whether or not Noah and Audrey would admit it, she was in danger each time she got near the man.

Growling in his throat, Griffin attempted to think of something else. Anything else.

And failed.

For whatever reason, the image of Audrey in Ellison’s arms remained in his mind, torturing and tormenting him to the point of frustration. She was alone with the man at this very moment.

“Ridiculous,” he muttered to himself. “Noah wouldn’t let her go anywhere with Ellison without an escort.”

And yet… Noah had lost track of his sister more than once, allowing his faith in her ability to do her job overshadow his instincts about her safety. The incident in the park a week before had been proof of that. Audrey also had a troubling tendency to put her assignment over her security. Even if Noah was able to keep an eye on her, she would undoubtedly give him the slip if she thought his watchful stare interfered with her plans.

A nagging dread troubled Griffin and the restlessness in his heart grew. He looked out the window again. The wagon was nearly cleared away from the road.

“Henson!” he called out to the driver.

The burly man appeared at his window in moments, shaking his head apologetically. “I’m sorry, m’lord. I’m tryin’ me best to move this crowd, but they was half drunk to begin with. I promise you…”

He raised his hand to interrupt the man. “It isn’t that. I want you to take me back to Burlington House.”

“Back, sir?” the other man repeated in confusion.

“Yes,” Griffin said. “I left behind something of great value there.”

***

Griffin elbowed his way through the crowd at Burlington House, ignoring the outraged gasps of the women and glares of the men. All that mattered now was Audrey. He had to find her.

The place was so crowded he’d been unsuccessful so far. Hell, he couldn’t even find Noah, and at half a head above the rest of the throng, usually he was simple to find.

“Damn it.” He moved past the musicians in one corner, hidden behind an exotic screen. He peeked behind, but didn’t see Audrey or her brother.

“Griffin?”

He turned to see Noah coming toward him and relief flooded him. “Thank God. Where’s Audrey?”

“What are you doing here?” Noah asked with a worried frown. “I thought you went home.”

“Where is she?” he repeated, not in the mood for his friend’s laissez-faire attitude. The feeling of dread about Audrey was growing in his stomach.

“I haven’t seen her for a bit, but this place is crowded. Besides, I’ve been catching up on some work. Why?” Noah set his champagne flute on a tray as a servant passed by.

“I have a bad feeling. We need to find her. Now!” Griffin straightened up to scan the room again.

Noah wrinkled his brow. “A feeling?”

Griffin turned back to his friend to grasp the lapels on his jacket. “Don’t argue with me, help me find her.”

“Hey, hey!” Noah said as he pulled away and glanced around them. “I’ll help you. Let’s split up. I’ll take the party since I already know where I haven’t seen her. You take the grounds. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Griffin called over his shoulder as he moved back into the crowd.

His head spun as he slammed the veranda doors open and the cool air hit him with a shock. There were couples swarming all around the terrace, escaping the tight, uncomfortable pressure of the ballroom with its many guests. He hurried from group to group, scanning each face, but didn’t see Audrey among any of them. At first he walked to keep from drawing attention to himself, but eventually he abandoned that completely and broke into a full bore run as he hurried down the steps. The people around him stared at his utter lack of propriety.

“Audrey?” he called out, looking around him in gazebos and beside hedgerows. “Audrey, where are you?”

There was no answer. By now his heart was throbbing, aching with fear. Why the hell hadn’t he stayed?

Further and further down the path he went, moving from bright lights into deeper and deeper darkness. Up ahead he saw a little, closed-in gazebo and raced toward it.

“Please Audrey,” he whispered to himself. “Please…”

“Please!”

He heard a weak cry that mirrored his own and raced forward. It was Audrey’s voice, begging for mercy.

Rounding to the front of the building, he bounded up the stairs three at a time, then skidded to a halt. Douglas Ellison had her pinned against the back wall of the gazebo. Her arms were flat against the wall, held by one of the stronger man’s hands. His other hand cupped her breast while he nuzzled her neck. The moonlight sparkled off the tears on her face, though her eyes were squeezed shut.

“Stop,” she whispered.

“Hush,” Ellison said against her neck. “You’ll like it well enough once you cease your struggles.”

With a roar so primal it startled even him, Griffin leapt forward and wrenched Douglas off her.

Ellison flew backwards, hitting one of the benches with a thud. Griffin didn’t allow him to regain his breath, but lifted him with one arm and slammed a fist into his nose. Blood spurted onto Ellison’s cheek and Griffin’s knuckles as the injured man howled.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Ellison asked, yanking himself from Griffin’s grip as he stumbled away. He put his fists up like a pugilist, but Griffin saw the fear sparkle in his gray eyes.

Griffin repositioned himself so that he blocked Audrey from Ellison’s view. “I came back for something. And I’m glad I did. Now get out!”

“You have no right…” Ellison began, his voice wavering.

“And neither do you. How dare you compromise her?” he interrupted with a roar. “Get out!”

The other man hesitated a fraction, then bowed to Audrey. “I’m sorry, my dear. I will call on you later to make amends for my overzealous behavior.”

She didn’t answer and Ellison left, clutching his bleeding nose as he hobbled up the pathway.

Griffin spun around to look at Audrey for the first time since he’d come in. Her blue eyes were wide and her face pale, making her look very innocent in the moonlight streaming through the gazebo.

“Audrey?” Griffin reached out his hand.

She stared at him, her chin lifted in defiance and her jaw set. But then the tears began to slide down her cheeks and her bottom lip trembled wildy.

He caught her in his arms.

“Shhh,” he whispered. “It’s over now. He’s gone. I’ll never let him near you again.”

She pushed away from his chest to look up into his face. “Don’t you see? It isn’t over at all. I still have a job to finish. Even you realize that or you would have simply pummeled him to a pulp right here.”

Griffin wrinkled his brow, but had to admit she was right. His instinct had told him to beat Ellison into unconsciousness for what he’d done. But another, more rational part of him had held back, knowing that destroying the man would only prove more difficult for Audrey and Noah.

“You don’t mean to tell me you’ll finish this case?” He wiped away her tears. “After what he just did?”

A little shiver wracked her, but Audrey nodded. “I must. If we bring in another agent it will look suspicious. She’ll never get enough information before it’s too late.”

Smoothing her skirt, Audrey began to fix her hair. “Douglas will come to me tomorrow. He’ll apologize, say his emotions got the best of him. I’ll accept. I’ll even imply that I…”

Her hands faltered and her voice broke.

“I’ll even imply that I approved of his advances.”

Griffin made a sound of disgust in his throat, but said nothing.

“We’ll continue on as we did before, and I’ll find the information we’re looking for.” She sighed. “He was so close to giving me a name tonight. So close and then he…”

“He tried to rape you,” Griffin snapped, speaking plainly to shock her with the truth.

“But he didn’t.” Her retort held just as much heat. Then her face and voice softened. “You came.”

The fear he’d tamped down earlier in the evening erupted. It returned two fold as he realized what he had barely averted. The image of Audrey broken and defiled was too much for him.

“Audrey, I was… I was…”

“I know.” She lifted two trembling fingers to his lips. “When I saw you, I knew everything would be all right. You wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.”

Griffin shut his eyes as he pondered how much Audrey had already been hurt because of him. First it had been Luci and her cruelty. Then he had hurt her, himself, making love to her with no promises he would take care of her. Even his proposal of marriage had hurt her. She wanted love, an emotion he was sure no longer lived in his heart.

His thoughts were shattered when he felt the gentle sweep of Audrey’s lips against his. His eyes flew open and he looked down at her. Her face was upturned, her eyes locked with his. Slowly, her hands wrapped around his forearms, steadying herself as she leaned up again.

This time he took her kiss with no hesitation, driving his tongue between her lips and tasting her like a man deprived of drink and food for far too long. Her sigh was followed by the total relaxation of her body in his arms. Her surrender was as sweet as her giving mouth.

After a long moment, he pulled away. “Anyone could see us here, then where will you be?”

For a moment she didn’t seem to understand him, just blinked at him with a satisfied smile on her face. Finally, she shook her head.

“Yes, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she murmured. “Do I… look all right? Not like I was…”

“Nearly ravished… er, twice?” he supplied, eliciting a weak smile from her swollen lips. “No. In fact, no one will even notice as long as we’re careful how we re-enter the throng.”

With a forced smile, he held out his arm for her and she took it after a moment’s hesitation. The electricity crackled between them even at this slight touch. As they exited the gazebo and made their way back up the pathway to the main garden, Griffin stole a glance her way. Though her eyes were clouded with remnants of her earlier fear, she was more beautiful than ever. And Griffin was reminded, more than ever, how much he didn’t want to lose her.

Except the only thing that would make her stay, was the one thing he couldn’t give her.