Audrey swallowed past the bile that kept her from saying what she’d practiced. “I feared you might encounter trouble with Lord Berenger if you called at his home today, so I came here instead. I owe you an apology, as well.”
Ellison’s eyebrow went up and he leaned back. “Really?”
Sinking her teeth into her lower lip, she looked around her as if she were ashamed and whispered, “You frightened me with your forwardness, but… but I liked it in a way, too.”
His face darkened as he glanced at Hannah then back to her. “Did you?”
“Yes. You’ve been such a kind friend to me and I repaid that kindness by allowing someone to harm you, then running away from you.”
The tears gathering in her eyes were painfully real, and though Douglas might think they were for his ordeal the night before, they most certainly were not.
He angled closer. “I would like to be much more than a mere friend to you. After last night, you’d be a fool not to realize that. But if you’ll allow me a private moment, I’ll tell you what I mean.”
“Hannah…”
“Ma’am,” Hannah’s voice was sharp. “That wouldn’t be proper.”
“Just for a moment, Hannah.” Audrey gave her friend a hard, pointed look.
Hannah took in a breath to say more, but didn’t. Her position didn’t allow her to scold Audrey, at least not in front of Ellison. Later, Audrey knew she’d hear plenty. With a grumble, her ‘maid’ left the room.
“When we’re married, we’ll hire a better attendant for you,” Ellison muttered with a glare at the door. “One who doesn’t hover around like a mother hen and have the gall to correct you.”
Audrey’s head spun. “Married?”
With a smile that would have been gentle if she hadn’t seen the predatory gleam in his eyes, Douglas took both her hands. “This wasn’t the way I had envisioned asking you, but I want you to be my wife.”
Audrey had the strangest urge to giggle. Not five years before she had longed for a proposal of marriage. Now she didn’t want any and had received two within the span of a few days, plus one from Jean who was only partly serious.
Douglas filled her hesitation by saying, “We would be the perfect match, Audrey. You bring your money and your family name to the relationship and I could take care of you as no other man could.”
Audrey fought to hold back a plethora of retorts to that statement.
“I’m not sure,” she finally replied.
At that, Douglas rose up from the chair to look down at her. His gray eyes were cold as steel and his manner had changed completely. Instead of being the attentive man he always played while with her, she saw the monster he could become toward anyone who crossed him.
“You spend time with me, you encourage my attentions, but then deny me when I make an honorable offer to you?” His tone was a combination of disgust and outrage. “It makes me wonder what you are doing with me. Are you a tease as the rumors said all those years ago?”
Audrey froze at this second mention of the past she’d always thought was a secret. Douglas had to have done much investigation to find out about it. The thought terrified her.
Standing, she shook her head. Backtracking was her only escape route.
“
“Then be my wife.”
This time it wasn’t a question, but an order. Audrey glanced up at him, wondering why he was so adamant about the issue. Was his organization running out of money, so he needed her dowry? Or were his plans to assassinate the Prince coming to fruition and he wanted her to be his if he was forced to flee the country?
The possibilities spun through her head. It wasn’t as if she would truly have to marry Douglas Ellison. Noah and she would unmask and arrest him long before any wedding. In the next few days she hoped to bring the man to justice. But being his fiancee offered her the opportunity to move closer to him, while it would push Griffin further away from her and from danger.
“Yes, Douglas, I will.”
He flashed a grin before he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her against his chest in a tight embrace. Audrey thanked her stars he didn’t kiss her. The thought of his lips on hers made her already queasy stomach even sicker.
Leaning back, she looked up at him with what she hoped was an adoring stare. “If it’s not too forward, perhaps you could give me a tour of your home, since I will soon be living here.”
If she obtained nothing else from this despicable ruse, at least she would get some recognizance. What Jean and the other agents couldn’t find, Audrey prayed Douglas would show her. And that she would recognize it.
“Of course, what a charming idea,” Douglas said, taking her arm to lead her into the hallway. Hannah’s dark head came up immediately as the door opened, but when she saw Douglas and Audrey were together, she dropped her stare and silently obeyed Audrey’s quiet order to follow behind.
The tour was tedious. Douglas seemed more interested in telling her about a family history she knew instinctively was a fabrication than in showing her anything of interest. From room to room they went, looking at portraits and talking about silver closets and dining rooms. In each room, Audrey ohhed and ahhed in the hopes he’d take her interest as sincere and perhaps reveal something she could actually use.
She was beginning to despair when they passed by a closed door on the way to Ellison’s study.
“What’s that room?”
“Hmmm?” he muttered, turning back. His eyes narrowed, but he gave her an appraising glance. “Perhaps you
Pulling out a key on a special ring, Ellison unlocked and opened the door, then stepped aside to let her lead the way. When Hannah tried to follow, he moved in front of her with a distinct shake of his head. Though her friend scowled, she backed into the hall.
The chamber could only be described as a war room. There were suits of armor standing guard on either side of the door. Weapons of all kinds hung from the walls, from pistols to bayonets to spears. There were even uniforms, some dirty and bloodstained, as if they hadn’t been cleaned since the occupant had been run through.
With a shiver, Audrey asked, “What is this?”
“It’s my tribute to the ancient art of war.” Ellison’s voice was suddenly distant as he looked around the room with a smile. “Everything important in this world is decided by war, Audrey. It is to be respected and revered.”
“Even if it brings death and destruction?” she asked quietly.
He looked at her evenly. “You’ll see what profit one can acquire from a war. In time, you’ll appreciate it as much as I do.”
Audrey turned away before Ellison could see the look of disgust on her face. Bending down, she looked at the artifacts in glass casings. Most were gruesome, but not of any use to her. Finally, she reached the massive dark maple desk in the back of the room.
She turned back in surprise. “Do you work here?”
He smiled. “Special occasions and special jobs deserve a special room.”
Audrey’s heart actually moved, she was sure of it. First it dropped to the pit of her stomach, then up to her throat where it kept her from making a sound, even a peep. In her bones, in her blood, in her heart she knew that this was the place she and her fellow spies had been looking for. This was the room where Ellison hid all his secrets.
“Well it’s very nice,” she said. “Though a bit intimidating.”
Ellison’s face broke into an ugly grin, as if he took pride in any form of intimidation.
Where did he keep his list of associates, or any proof of what he was doing? Her eyes flew to the desk. In the drawers, or perhaps a secret compartment? A large picture of a particularly horrific battle scene hung on the wall. Did he have a safe behind it? Or perhaps evidence was hidden in the liquor cabinet. The window seat. Within the books on the bookshelves.
Just as she was about to turn away, a small red box on the desk caught her eye. It was Oriental in design, with an elaborate green and gold dragon on one side. Something about it drew her closer, and she reached out to
