For a moment the two men just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable. Griffin had never come close to exchanging blows with Noah in all the years they’d been friends. Now in the last month, they’d exchanged more than one set of heated words.
“I’m sorry, Noah,” he finally said as he reached out a hand to his friend. “I shouldn’t have implied anything of the sort.”
With a grunt, Noah shook his offered hand. “Now we should be off. I’d like to be home before Audrey. If we take a few back streets I know, we should make it.”
“Yes,” Griffin said, following his friend out. “It’s a good idea.”
Moving into the crowd, he stifled a growl of frustration. Chasing through back streets to reach his home before Audrey arrived didn’t begin to encompass the kind of protection he desired for her. Not when Douglas Ellison seemed intent on claiming her.
Chapter Five
Audrey peered out the carriage window to watch the sparkling lights of townhouses and small city estates pass by. Despite the late hour, many of the occupants of the stylish homes were still awake. Some were hosting balls, others arriving home from the opera she and her party had attended. Still others were plotting the assassination of the Prince Regent.
With a shiver, she glanced at Ellison. How she loathed being alone with him, pretending to care for him. But there was little choice. This was her duty, no matter how she… or Griffin… felt about it.
Ellison leaned closer to peek over her shoulder. The slight gesture was an invasion of her already compromised personal space.
“What do you find outside that intrigues you so much, my dear?”
“I was just thinking about the opera tonight,” she lied with a practiced smile. “What a treat to see both the Prince and Princess there.”
Ellison pulled away, and she took the opportunity to breathe again.
“Yes, His Royal Highness looked high and mighty as ever.” Ellison shook his head.
Batting her eyes as if she didn’t hear the venom dripping from his voice, she said, “Well, he is the next King of England.”
“Perhaps,” he answered with a thin smile. After a pause, he continued, “Did you see the expression on his face when he realized the crowd was applauding for
Audrey took in a shallow breath as she glanced at Hannah. The other woman pretended to be staring out her window in disinterest, but Audrey could tell by the sparkle in her green eyes that she was digesting every word of the conversation for analysis later. Once more Audrey counted herself lucky that Hannah was her protector and partner.
“They both certainly looked nice in their finery,” she said, returning to her game of silly miss.
He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “No one was as beautiful as you were tonight, Audrey.”
With a sly look in Hannah’s direction, he moved closer. His body heat was stifling in the close confines of the carriage. Audrey swallowed hard.
Ellison continued, “I must admit I missed your company in the weeks we were apart. I’m very glad you decided to come to London. Though I do wish you had agreed to stay in my home… with your brother as escort, of course.”
Her breath hitched in her throat, but Audrey managed to answer, “Viscount Berenger is an old friend of Noah’s. With all his recent tragedy, my brother thought it would be best if we remain with him.”
“Yes, Berenger.” Ellison sniffed with disgust. “Never cared for the man. Anyone with as much power as his title and family name afford him should take advantage of it, not hide away like Berenger does. It is a waste of money and power.”
Audrey smiled for the sake of her act, but she had to bite her tongue. Ellison’s contempt for Griffin brought out an odd protectiveness in her.
“Even if we aren’t staying with you, I’m glad we’re so close. We’re certain to see a great deal more of you since we’re neighbors,” she said, barely maintaining the silly exterior she put on for her prey.
Douglas focused on her and Audrey suddenly wondered if she had miscalculated by agreeing to be alone with him. He seemed like he wanted devour her right there. If Hannah hadn’t been sitting by, watching vigilantly, Audrey had no doubt he would do just that.
“Truly?” he murmured and inched even closer.
To her relief, the carriage pulled to a smooth stop in front of Griffin’s door and she heard the footman climb down. When the door swung open, Douglas reached across, blocking her exit.
He half-turned to Hannah and snapped, “You may go.”
Her friend’s concern was plain, but no matter her misgivings, Audrey had to stay. Ellison was offering her an opportunity to gain his confidence, no matter how unpleasant the prospect was. This one small sacrifice could eventually result in the key to solving their case.
Her hands shaking, Audrey nodded to her maid. “You may step out, Hannah. I will be right behind you.”
With a scowl, Hannah did as she was asked. The door shut behind her and Audrey caught her breath again as Ellison turned his attention back to her. She tried to slide away, though her position next to the carriage wall didn’t offer her much maneuvering room.
“Mr. Ellison, I must tell you how entirely inappropriate this situation is. I shouldn’t be unattended with you. Being with my maid alone is questionable enough.”
She hoped her tone was sharp and disapproving. She couldn’t be quite sure over the rush of blood in her ears.
Douglas smiled as he took her hand without bothering to ask her leave and pressed it against his lips. The damp of his mouth seeped through her thin glove.
“Audrey, you must know how deeply I’m beginning to care for you. I would like to kiss you.”
Suddenly she felt very dizzy. The situation was spiraling out of hand with no real end in sight unless she chose to break her cover. “N-No, I don’t think that would be wise…”
Before she could finish, Ellison gripped her upper arms and pulled her against his chest. His mouth came down on hers, hard and insistent against her lips. Audrey nearly gagged and by sheer will alone managed not to pull away, though she refused to return his kiss. She had to play the shocked innocent, but not let him know his touch made her physically ill.
Finally he pulled back. “That wasn’t so horrible, was it?”
She put a mask of shock on her features.
“Of all the gall!” she burst out, mimicking the outrage she’d seen displayed so often in the women of the
With that, she shoved passed him and wrenched the carriage door open. Grasping at the footman’s arm blindly, she found her feet firmly on the ground again and Hannah beside her.
Ellison opened the carriage window and leaned out. “Good evening, Audrey.”
He grinned as the coach began toward his house next door and left the two women standing in Griffin’s drive.
Hannah took her arm to guide her toward the house. “Why do you look so pale?”
Audrey couldn’t move fast enough. Suddenly she wanted to be inside the house. To be safe and protected by her brother. By Griffin. She stumbled on the bottom step, but caught herself and kept moving.
“What is it?” Hannah repeated as they came through the door.
Audrey wiped her mouth with the back of her glove and ground out, “He kissed me.”
Hannah drew back in surprise and her face paled a shade. “He kissed you? I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone with that man!”
