The carriage door swung open and the footman held out his arm. With a fleeting smile for both Griffin and her brother, Audrey took the man’s assistance and stepped from the carriage. Her eyes crinkled as the bright, late afternoon sun hit her face even though her wide rimmed bonnet offered her some protection. Following behind was Hannah, who wasted no time in putting on the demure mask of a lady’s maid.
As Griffin stepped to the packed down grass, he found himself immediately searching the throng of people for Douglas Ellison. If there was anything he had learned over the years, it was to keep his enemies close.
At his side, Audrey fanned herself, looking properly bored even while her blue eyes scanned the crowd with as much focus as his own. It seemed she, too, could only think of Ellison and what her next move would be to bring the man down.
“Lady Audrey!” came a voice from over the crowd.
With a muted sigh, she turned toward the source of the sound and smiled while she raised her hand to wave. “Mr. Ellison! We’re over here!”
Nudging his way through a group of gentlemen, Ellison burst from the pack. He gave a broad grin, his gray eyes roving over Audrey in one possessive, lurid motion. It took every ounce of Griffin’s strength not to grab the man and pummel him to a pulp. The desire was even more powerful than it had been the night of the opera. Since then Griffin had tasted Audrey’s lips, felt her soft skin against his own. He was loath to share her, especially with a bastard like Douglas Ellison.
Ellison took both her hands in an inappropriate gesture of familiarity. “Audrey, how nice to see you once again. I’ve missed your company.”
“Oh, Douglas,” Audrey replied with a false giggle before her eyes slid to Griffin and her brother with counterfeit embarrassment. “I mean,
While Griffin seethed, Ellison lifted Audrey’s gloved hand to his lips and smiled. “You’d be surprised.”
Noah cleared his throat as he stepped forward. Griffin could see his friend took no more pleasure than he did in the way Ellison was manhandling Audrey. “Mr. Ellison.”
Ellison released Noah’s sister with reluctance and shook the other man’s hand. “Lord Lockhart, good to see you. Fine weather, eh?”
“Yes,” Noah replied in a dry tone.
Ellison’s eyes went passed Noah to focus on Griffin. He wasn’t surprised when the jovial friendliness on the man’s face vanished. What did surprise him was that Ellison didn’t display the general jealousy of a possessive man, but the specific hatred of Griffin. Yet he was certain he hadn’t revealed any of his conflicted feelings for Audrey in front of Ellison.
Had he?
“Viscount Berenger.” Ellison’s tone was cold. “Good to see you here. Having Audrey and her brother in your home seems to be bringing you out of your shell of late. I don’t think I’ve seen you at so many events in all the three years we’ve been neighbors.”
Griffin forced himself to take a civil tone. “A good host mustn’t neglect his guests. I admit this sort of thing isn’t my forte, but Noah and Audrey were set on attending all the events of the Jubilee.”
“You’re putting on a good face,” Ellison said. “But perhaps your visitors are too wearing on you so soon after your
Every hair on the back of Griffin’s neck stood up as he clenched his right hand into a tight fist. All he’d been able to think about during the past few days was Ellison and his offer… or threat… to take Audrey away from him.
“I assure you that having Noah and Audrey in my home is nothing but a pleasure,” he managed to choke out with difficulty.
“Hmmm…” Ellison let his gaze slip over to Audrey. “A pleasure I’d love to be all mine.”
Before Griffin could bite out a retort or punch the man in the face, he felt Noah grasp the back of his tailored jacket and twist the material in his hand to hold him in place.
“It’s a generous offer, Ellison,” Noah said with a forced smile. “But Audrey and I are quite comfortable where we are.”
Griffin watched as Audrey pretended to be disappointed for Ellison’s sake. God, how he hated her duplicity and the ease with which she lied. Even if it was for King and Country, he could hardly bear to watch it, or face the sour memories it stirred.
Griffin pulled from Noah’s hold and straightened his coat. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to have a look around.”
With that, he turned on his heel and stalked into the crowd, wishing he could dispose of Douglas Ellison right then and there. And hating that it was Audrey’s safety which kept him from doing just that.
***
Audrey watched Griffin disappear from view with a frown. How she wished she could follow him and offer him some kind of comfort. It troubled him that Ellison desired her. It troubled her, too, but the act was a necessary evil. If only Griffin understood… if only she could
“Strange man, Berenger,” Ellison said with a shrug. “Never have understood him.”
“Lord Berenger is still in mourning,” Audrey said softly, hoping her voice was free of the emotions she so strongly felt for Griffin. “It is natural for him to be so distant.”
“Hmph.” Ellison offered her his arm as Noah and Hannah followed close behind them. “It’s been six months. He should be well past any sadness he may have felt at his wife’s death. Especially considering her-”
Behind them, Noah made a loud sound in the back of his throat. Both Audrey and Ellison turn to look at him. The expression in her brother’s eyes was enough to make Audrey shiver. They were dilated with anger, dark as midnight. It was a look he rarely used, but it was effective.
“Mr. Ellison, please recall that my sister is an innocent lady and Griffin Berenger is a friend,” he ground out, meeting Ellison’s eyes and holding his gaze there.
Douglas looked away quickly, unable to match the intensity of her brother’s stare. “Of course, Lord Lockhart. I apologize for my lack of thought.”
Audrey had an urge to stomp her foot. For the past few weeks she heard innuendo about Griffin and Luci’s marriage, but never gotten to the real truth. What was the secret that made Griffin so unhappy? Audrey had always assumed his marriage had been a harmonious one, but more and more she doubted that theory had been correct.
Ellison gave a smooth smile. “Your brother is correct and I apologize. We should speak of more pleasant topics. Such as today’s events. Look over the crowd! There are our Prince and his guests now.”
Audrey followed the sweeping motion of Ellison’s hand and found herself looking into a raised box on the parameter of the park. Inside the Prince and several of his guests were chatting.
“I was under the impression you weren’t overly found of our esteemed monarch, Douglas,” she whispered. “I’m surprised you show so much interest in him and his party today.”
Ellison patted her hand as he let out a cold laugh. “You are observant, but how can one not be happy at an event such as this? It’s bound to be the best show this city has seen in years.”
Audrey’s heart leapt in her throat and she tossed a glance back at her brother. From his position a few steps behind them, Noah hadn’t overheard their conversation, but had followed their stares to the Prince’s box. Noah had a concerned frown on his face. Even Hannah held Audrey’s stare for a long moment before dropping her gaze to the ground as was appropriate for the role she played.
“I hate to be rude,” Noah said, stepping closer to the couple. “But I see an old friend, Lady Greene, across the lawn. I would be remiss if I didn’t say hello to her. Will you entertain my sister for a moment, Ellison?”
The other man’s eyes lit up at the chance he was being offered. “Of course, Lockhart.”
“Thank you, I won’t be long.”
Audrey stifled a smile as her brother disappeared into the crowd. Lady Greene was a code term between the two of them. It meant Noah was off to find Lord Golding and give him a report on their situation. The fact he had decided to do so immediately made Audrey wonder if her brother felt the danger had escalated.
“Alone at last,” Ellison said with a smile.
Audrey glanced in Hannah’s direction. “Almost alone.”
