The Secrets of a Lady

Ellison leaned closer. “Why don’t you and your brother consider leaving this house and coming to stay with me at my estate? You could enjoy my hospitality without bearing any of Berenger’s unwanted attentions.”

Audrey barely held back a laugh of contempt. Little did the bastard know that it was his attentions that gave her nightmares.

“Douglas…”

“Consider it,” he interrupted with an intense stare deep into her eyes. “Say you’ll consider it and I will believe you don’t wish Berenger to court you.”

Her blood ran cold. Ellison was asking her to choose between the two men. If she didn’t promise to mull over his dangerous offer, he would take it that she was picking Griffin.

“I–I will think about it,” she stammered. “Though it will ultimately be up to my brother where we stay in London.”

With a nod, he said, “I was hoping you would make the right decision. Now I should return to my work. Good afternoon, Audrey.”

He grasped her hand and raised it to his lips, pressing an excessively wet kiss on her fingertips.

“Good afternoon,” she repeated with a thin smile.

***

As soon as Ellison had departed the house, Griffin entered the sitting room in three long strides. “Why do you insist on putting yourself in danger?”

Audrey spun around from the mantel with wide, blue eyes.

“You startled me.”

She placed a hand on her heart and drew his gaze to the soft curves of her body. The woman was a damned distraction, and the way she made him feel when she touched him could only bring him trouble in the end.

“What should startle you is the way Ellison is reeling you in like a fish on a hook.” He waved his hand in the general direction of the blackguard’s home. “Why don’t you just strip down and wait for him in his bed, Audrey? Or better yet, load up a gun and let him fire away once he discovers you’ve been playing games with him?”

Her face darkened a shade, but he could see the hurt in her eyes as well as the anger at his sharp comment.

“Griffin,” she whispered. “That’s enough.”

“I agree. That is enough. You just promised a murderer and a traitor that you would consider moving yourself into his home and out of the modicum of protection you enjoy in these walls.”

“You were eavesdropping on my investigation?” she asked, her mouth dropping open in disbelief.

“No, I was passing by the door when you made your ridiculous vow.” He tilted his head. “And you’re avoiding the subject.”

“There wasn’t any choice.” She let out a long sigh. “Ellison believes you’re preying on my virtue. I told him I would consider moving to his home.”

“And you see no harm in that?”

“It’s a ruse to keep the man happy for the time being. A few words from Noah and it will all be avoided.” She turned away, but not before Griffin saw how tired she looked.

He bit back a heated retort and sat down in the closest chair. He hated to make her look so sad and defeated, but she didn’t seem to grasp the danger of what she was doing.

“You and your brother are so nonchalant about this operation,” he said. “But I cannot watch you march into the lion’s den with no armor, Audrey.”

She turned slowly to face him, her skin pale. She took a small step in his direction. “What are you saying?”

“Obviously my thoughts on this subject won’t be heeded, so I’m leaving tonight.”

“O-Our cover…” Audrey said. “Our case…”

“Don’t you see, I don’t give a damn about your case any longer.” Griffin wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. Wanted to press his lips against hers and show her just how serious he was. “I can’t watch you harm yourself.”

“But if you go, we’ll have no chance to catch Ellison. Not only that, but he might even guess that my relationship with him was all a ruse. I’ll be in more danger then.” Her hand stirred at her side as if she wanted to take his.

Griffin wished she would. He wanted her to choose him over her case. Not that he would know what to do if she did. He still had no future to offer her.

“I want to protect you.”

“Help me protect our country and our Prince.” Her body swayed in his direction before she snapped back. “And that will protect me. Together we can beat Ellison.”

“Together.”

His body relaxed at that thought. He pushed to his feet and moved toward her. She tracked his every step and her breath shortened when he reached her. Against his better judgment and all the promises he’d made, he brought his hand down to brush her cheek gently. Her skin was soft and smooth beneath his rough fingertips, like the finest satin.

Audrey gave a soft sigh, almost a whimper, and closed her eyes for a brief moment to lean into his hand.

“Audrey!”

Griffin turned to see Noah standing in the doorway, both hands on his hips and eyes dark with anger. Breaking away from her, Griffin stifled a groan at his own stupidity. Here he’d promised not to touch Audrey again and he couldn’t seem to help himself.

“Noah.” She took a few steps toward her brother, her face darkening and her eyes wide. “Please.”

“I’d like to speak with you for a moment,” Noah said, looking evenly at Griffin though he spoke to Audrey.

Griffin held the gaze without blinking, feeling part foolish he’d betrayed his friend, and part defiant. Audrey had a right to choose whom she wanted in her life, Noah be damned.

Throwing a quick glance over her shoulder, Audrey met his eyes and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

He smiled at her briefly, then watched her walk away after her brother. He wondered how he’d ever manage to let her leave permanently.

***

“What the hell are you doing, Audrey?” Noah shut his door behind them and gave her an exasperated stare.

“Nothing,” she said, though her emotions belied her statement. Her cheek still tingled where Griffin had touched her, and her heart throbbed when she thought of the tender look in his eyes.

“It can lead to nothing, of that I’m sure.” Noah walked to his window to lean against the glass. He crossed his arms and looked at her expectantly. “At least tell me why you’re doing this?”

Fidgeting against his pointed stare, she snapped, “I’m doing my job, Noah, nothing more. Well, my job and trying to stay out of Griffin’s way just as he asked me.”

“Ha!” Noah shook his head. “If anything you’re settling yourself into Griffin’s life, not removing yourself from it.”

Her cheeks flamed. “How?”

Somehow she’d hoped her growing feelings for Griffin weren’t as clear to everyone else as they were to her. She’d tried to avoid doing things that would draw attention to her heart, but sometimes they were inevitable. Like that moment in the drawing room. How was she to know Noah was watching?

“I see you studying Griffin. Whenever he comes into a room, you can’t keep your eyes off him.” Her brother arched an eyebrow.

Giving an exasperated sigh, she said nothing. There was no use trying to lie to her shrewd brother.

“When you talk to him, you touch his arm, you lean in close to him. I don’t think you even realize you do it,” he continued. “My God, you act like you might have a future with the man.”

She winced at his harsh words, though she knew he meant well and was right in his assessment. Despite her better judgment, she was finding herself drawn into Griffin’s existence each day.

“Do you really want to set yourself up for the kind of heartache you experienced five years ago? Griffin is