sibling. She returned the smile as she pinched her cheeks and fluffed the curls around her face.
“So where is our host?” she asked, hoping her tone was unconcerned. “I haven’t seen him for a few days.”
It seemed Griffin was making good on his vow to stay away from her, for he hadn’t even eaten with Audrey and Noah since the evening when he’d kissed her nearly senseless. An evening that had haunted her every moment since.
“I’m not sure,” Noah said with a shrug. “He’s been acting very strange of late. Perhaps it’s returning to this house that makes him behave this way.”
With a frown, Audrey turned from the mirror. “Why would this house make him act differently? I would think coming home would be a good influence on him.”
Her brother’s answering frown was deep and there was a long silence before he spoke again.
“This place doesn’t hold only happy memories for Griffin. In fact, he might not have come here again if I hadn’t asked him.” He sighed. “Perhaps I did him a harm by forcing him back to London life.”
“But Luci died in the country,” Audrey said. “I would think anything that happened in London couldn’t compare to that blow.”
“There are worse things than the death of a loved one, Audrey,” he answered softly.
“Such as?”
She couldn’t think of anything worse than losing a wife so young and under such tragic circumstances.
“Betrayal,” her brother offered.
Before she could ask him to explain his cryptic remark, the door to the sitting room swung open and a maid appeared. Dropping a short curtsey for them, she said, “I beg your pardon, but Mr. Ellison is inquiring for you, Lady Audrey. He says he’s expected.”
Audrey covered her frustration with a smile. “Tell him I’ll join him momentarily.”
The maid nodded and left them alone again.
“Well, good luck. I’ll be down to ‘save’ you in a short time,” Noah said.
“My dear brother,” she answered with a shake of her head. “When will you and Griffin Berenger and the rest of the world learn I don’t need saving?”
With that, she turned on her heel and sailed out of the room with her head held high.
***
“Audrey,” Douglas Ellison said as he rose from his seat to hold out his hands to her. “I’m so glad you invited me this afternoon.”
Holding back a grimace, Audrey put her hands into his and forced a smile to her face. “I haven’t seen you since that night at the opera. I must admit I missed your most pleasant company.”
“As I’ve missed yours.” Ellison motioned to the place beside him on the ottoman.
Audrey hesitated, but then gave in to his request. She had to pick her battles if she was to defeat Douglas Ellison. No doubt he would be offended and suspicious if she avoided him physically. After all, he was supposed to be courting her.
God help her, she was supposed to behave as if she welcomed that courtship. Briefly closing her eyes, she tried to think of what made her body react with pleasure, not distaste. The only thing that came to mind was Griffin.
Griffin running his hands up and down her body. Holding her mouth captive with his own. Making her ache with longing from her head to her toes. And Griffin doing the things to her that Hannah had described a few days before. Interesting, titillating things that made her toes curl when she dared to think of them for more than a brief moment.
As she smoothed her skirts and nodded to the maid who poured their tea, Audrey tried to clear thoughts of Griffin from her head. He was only a distraction, a danger to the game of cat and mouse she was playing.
After the maid had gone, Douglas turned to her with gleaming gray eyes. “I must admit after our last encounter, I wondered if you would ever speak to me again.”
“You mean because you were so forward?” She somehow managed to keep her tone light and flirtatious.
“Yes.” He edged closer to her on the narrow couch and she just barely reined in her desire to move away an equal distance.
“I don’t condone that kind of behavior in my suitors, but I do understand how one could get swept away in a moment. After all, we’d just experienced the romance of the opera.” She nearly choked on her own insincerity.
“I’m glad you understand,” Ellison replied with a sigh of relief. “It’s difficult for a man of a certain age and disposition not to be driven to distraction by a beautiful woman such as you.”
With a pause, she calculated her next move. She needed to say or do something that would encourage Ellison to trust her, but wouldn’t give him the impression she wanted him to touch her again.
“Thank you, Douglas, er Mr. Ellison.”
A thin smile turned up his lips. “Of course you must call me by my given name, Audrey. Our friendship has progressed to a point where that kind of familiarity might be expected.”
Blushing, she shook her head and dropped her eyes. “Oh, Mr. Ellison, I’m not sure.”
“If you’re uncomfortable with calling me by my name in public, perhaps you’ll only do so in private,” he offered with a light touch of his hand on hers. It was cold and slightly clammy, reminding Audrey of a fish at market.
“Hmmm.” She pretended to ponder the inappropriate request. “Do you mean like a secret between us,
One corner of his lips bobbed up in triumph. “Yes, exactly.”
She batted her eyes just a flutter and looked at him with a slow smile. “Very well. I trust you enough to share a secret with you. I hope you feel the same way about me.”
“I do, Audrey.” Now his voice was deathly serious and he leaned forward a fraction, his eyelids heavy with what she now recognized as desire.
With a shiver, she stood up. “Now, Douglas, I see that same gleam in your eye that was there the night of the opera. I hope you understand if I don’t include passionate embraces as part of our relationship… at least not yet. A lady must protect her reputation, you know.”
With a purse of his lips, he sank back against the ottoman. “Of course. Your reputation was part of what drew me to you.”
“W-Well,” she stammered. “I’m glad I meet with your approval then. And that you understand my position.”
“Of course,” he said with a smooth smile she didn’t trust for even a moment. For the first time, she realized he would take what he wanted if it wouldn’t be given freely. He was only biding his time to have her.
She shifted uncomfortably. “It has been more than quarter of an hour.”
For once she was happy for the societal rules that said a man shouldn’t call for very long. Despite not learning anything useful about Ellison, she wanted him far away from her.
One of his eyebrows arched at her not-so-delicate hint and his eyes hardened. “Are you counting the minutes so closely, Audrey?”
With a quick internal curse, she returned to her seat. “Of course not,” she insisted. “But my brother and Lord Berenger may be. They’re both very protective of me.”
At that, Ellison straightened up and his nostrils flared. “Yes, I’ve noticed Lord Berenger’s ‘protective’ nature toward you at the opera. Are you certain you can trust
“Whatever do you mean?” She felt a ridiculous impulse to defend Griffin. “Lord Berenger poses no threat to me.”
“I wonder. After all, the man should be coming out of mourning soon and here you are, right down the hallway from him.” Ellison’s eyes narrowed. “You would be easy enough prey.”
Audrey gave an affronted frown. “Mr. Ellison, do you really think I would allow you to court me while I gave Lord Berenger some kind of liberties? Is
Ellison shook his head. “No, of course not. As I said a moment ago, I have every faith in you. It is Berenger I don’t trust.”
She said nothing, but turned her face so she wouldn’t reveal too much of the truth.
