The Secrets of a Lady

house running!” he said, his French accent thick with laughter.

Audrey crossed the room to close the window behind him. “What are you doing here? I thought you were trapped in Paris.”

“Non,” the man said with a frown, running his gloved hand through thick, dark hair. “Thank God for Lord Golding. When he heard of my plight he smuggled me out and brought me here.”

Emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Jean Beaumonte had been a friend and sometime partner while she and Noah worked undercover in France. He’d worked hard against Napoleon and suffered greatly for it. Identified after the war as a traitor, he’d been in grave danger. Seeing him standing before her with a crooked, sad smile on his handsome face was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

“My dear friend,” she finally choked out, motioning to one of the chairs by the fire.

As he sat down with a weary sigh, she closed the sitting room door and poured him a drink. Settling back into her seat, she looked at him closely. Since the last time they were together he’d lost weight and his eyes were rimmed dark from lack of sleep.

“What is going on, Jean? Shouldn’t you be hiding out somewhere until you can return to France?”

“That would be my greatest wish, but I am afraid I will never be able to return to my homeland.” His face fell as an unfathomable sadness filled his dark eyes. “I was in hiding until Lord Golding asked me to assist you and Noah with your investigation. I could not refuse when such good friends were the ones I would be aiding.”

Again she smiled, thinking of all the good times she, Noah and Hannah had spent with Jean over the years. “I feel better knowing you’re on our side, even if it can’t be in public. What are you doing?”

“I was to be on a search of Ellison’s house, but I was nearly caught by a servant so I didn’t find anything to implicate any others in his gang. I decided to see you. And here I am.” He finished with a swig of his drink.

“I’m glad, my friend. But I’m sorry you couldn’t find anything in Ellison’s residence,” she said with a soft sigh. “I’d hoped we could finish this assignment quickly. Even more so now that you’re in danger. You’ll find the English have as little love for you as the French, I’m afraid.”

With a frown, Jean nodded. “That is why it is good that I have a passable English accent. Don’t I?”

Audrey giggled at Jean’s attempt at a British accent and nodded. “It’s almost as good as Noah’s French accent.”

Jean’s face fell into a teasing scowl. “Your brother can capture none of the subtle nuances or beauty of my people’s speech. He sounds like he is strangling a cat!”

Audrey’s giggle turned to a full-bore belly laugh. Jean was right, when Noah was alone with them his French accent was deplorable. Only under the pressure of an assignment could he manage it properly.

“I won’t tell him you said that.” She glanced around, pretending she was checking for her brother. “Nor will I tell him I agree with you.”

Jean stared at her for a long moment, his eyes drifting over her face with affection. “Tell me again, why you will not marry me.”

Freezing, Audrey stood and paced away to the fireplace. In France, Jean had asked her to marry him several times, despite her gentle refusal each time.

“Oh Jean, you already know the reasons why,” she said as she plucked at her sleeve.

“Tell me again,” he ordered with a smile in his tone. “I cannot remember them.”

“Liar.” She laughed, despite how uncomfortable the conversation made her. “I won’t marry you because neither of us loves the other.”

“That is not true,” Jean insisted, standing up to come closer to her. “I care for you a great deal and respect you even more, which is better than most marriages. I find you attractive. What could be a better match than that?”

Audrey shook her head. “One of us or both of us would only end up hurt if we married. No, I won’t marry unless I love the man and he loves me equally. And that is not our relationship, Jean.”

She paused as an image of Griffin leapt to her mind. When she spoke again, her words were soft. “I know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you in return. I couldn’t go through that again. Or be the one who caused such pain.”

Jean gave a theatrical sigh. “Alas, I feared your thoughts on that subject remained unchanged.”

“Jean.” She stepped closer and smiled up at him. “I am glad you’re here. I’m glad you’ll be helping us, even if we cannot work as closely together as we have in the past.”

He grinned in reply and she kissed him, first on one cheek, then the other.

The slam of the door beside them made them each leap back. Jean took a fighter’s stance, while Audrey spun around to face their intruder.

Griffin stood framed in the doorway.

He looked furious, his eyes flashing and his face darkening redder with every moment that passed. She’d never seen him so angry, even when he’d overheard Ellison had kissed her in the carriage. Now he looked ready to kill.

“This is what you do to occupy your mind while you wait for your brother and me to return?” His voice was choked and tight.

She winced while she took a step forward and held out her hand to explain.

With a growl, he backed away and looked at her with eyes full of disgust. “Don’t let me interrupt you. You and your lover are free to carry on, though I’d appreciate it if you took your little tryst upstairs. The servants could wander in at any time and I would be embarrassed for them to see such a display.”

Turning on his heel, he stormed out of the room. Audrey opened her mouth to call out after him, but couldn’t seem to make a sound as she watched him disappear from sight. For a long moment she simply stared at the empty doorway where he’d stood, then gathered her rapidly crumbling composure.

“I’m so sorry, Jean,” she whispered as she turned back. “That was our host, Griffin Berenger. He’s an old family friend and is helping us with this case. He doesn’t understand…” She trailed off as a tear began to wind its way down her cheek to her chin.

Clucking his tongue, Jean pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. She took it gladly. Wiping her eyes, she cursed herself for such a weak display in front of a man who had lost so much.

“I think he is more than a family friend, no?” Jean asked sympathetically. “Perhaps this man is the reason you have always said no when I asked you for your hand?”

“No,” Audrey denied even as the sting of truth cut through her heart. “He can only ever be a family friend. He’s made that abundantly clear to me.”

Jean smiled, a bemused expression that made her suddenly feel young and inexperienced. “Dear, sweet Audrey. These are not the actions of a simple friend. That was a man who thinks something has been taken that should be his. But for now, dry your tears. I am not offended by his outburst.”

“Well, I am!” She bunched the handkerchief into a ball as her embarrassment transformed turned to anger.

“Then go and tell him so,” Jean said with a shrug. “See how he reacts and perhaps you will see that I am right. Either way, I must go. I have stayed too long and your friend has seen me.”

Audrey nodded. “Would you like me to sneak you out the front?”

“No.” Jean opened the window and climbed out on the ledge. “I will go the way I came. Good night, fair Audrey. Adieu.”

“Adieu, my friend,” she whispered as she shut the window.

With a harsh sigh, she turned to the doorway. It might take all her energy, but she and Griffin Berenger were going to have it out, once and for all.

Chapter Eight

Griffin downed a second drink and stared at the fire crackling in his bedroom. Rage and jealousy coursed through him and he hated himself for both. Once again he had been knocked from his orderly existence by a