The Secrets of a Lady

run her fingertip across the top.

“This is lovely.”

“Yes.” Suddenly he was standing right beside her. Just the proximity of his body made her cold. “Isn’t it?”

“How does it open?” she asked as she turned it over in her hand. There didn’t appear to be a lock on it or even a lid for that matter.

“There’s a special key.” With a frown, Douglas took the box away from her. “This box is ancient, and it keeps the secrets of the past well.”

Audrey smiled, but this time didn’t have to force the expression. This was it. She had found what they had been looking for. Taking one last glance at the box, she took Ellison’s waiting arm.

As they left the room and he locked the door, he said, “I want to start our life together off properly. I want to ask your father for your hand in marriage.”

Audrey balked. This wasn’t something she had anticipated. Her father had been ill for quite some time, and she and Noah didn’t have time to wait for Ellison to visit him, allow her father to size him up, then return to London. If he did that it would be too late.

“My father is very sick,” Audrey explained. “Which is why I travel with my brother. He’s my protector in my father’s stead. You could ask him for my hand.”

Ellison hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Very well. And that makes it all the easier. We shall walk there now.”

Throwing a glance over her shoulder to the wide-eyed Hannah, Audrey followed Ellison back downstairs to get her shawl.

***

“You’re completely missing the point, Noah!” Griffin slammed his drink down on the table and the flower arrangement shivered with the impact. “She went to Ellison’s house without notifying either of us, the very day after the man nearly ravished her. She has no regard for her own safety.”

Noah wrinkled his brow. “I understand perfectly, Griffin, there is no need to shout. I’m upset Audrey and Hannah did this on their own accord, as well. Especially considering last night’s events.”

His friend sighed as he rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Still, Griffin, I–I do see the value in what she’s doing. She wants to put Ellison at ease, to make him believe he can trust her.”

“So you don’t have a problem with her running off and putting herself in further danger?” Griffin asked with an exasperated sigh as he flopped into a chair. “Of course, you don’t. Apparently, I’m the only person who sees how outrageous this whole situation is.”

“Here we go again…” Noah began, but before he could finish the door to the study opened and a footman stepped in.

“I beg your pardon, my lords, but Lady Audrey has returned and…”

“Well, send her and her maid in here,” Griffin snapped as he turned on his heel to face the door. “I have a few things to say to her.”

“Yes, my lord, but she isn’t alone.”

Noah uncovered his eyes and straightened up in his chair. “Who is she with?”

“With Mr. Ellison,” the footman said. “They say they’d like to speak with Lord Lockhart.”

Noah stared at the servant and then shot a hooded glance toward Griffin.

“Wonderful,” Griffin muttered. He sat back down and smoothed his jacket. “Send them in.”

In a few moments, the door opened and Ellison strolled in with Audrey on his arm as if she were a prize he’d won. His eyes lit up when he saw Griffin was in the room, and he grinned at his foe with glee.

Noah’s face hardened. “Good day, Ellison. And Audrey, I wish you’d let someone know you were going for a stroll this morning.”

He gave his sister a dark look, but to Griffin’s surprise she refused to meet either man’s eyes.

Ellison moved his arm to wrap it around Audrey’s slender shoulders. “I’m sorry if you worried about your sister. But I assure you she was quite safe with me. In fact, I have an important matter to discuss with you.”

Audrey’s eyes lifted slowly. Glancing first at Griffin, she touched Douglas’s arm. “Douglas, this is a private, family matter. Perhaps Lord Berenger…”

“No, no, no,” Ellison interrupted as he met Griffin’s eyes evenly. “I’m sure Lord Berenger will want to hear this news.”

Audrey’s gaze came back to Griffin. She seemed to be pleading with him to step out of the room, but he looked away as if he hadn’t understood her stare. There was no way he could leave now.

Noah folded his arms. “What is it that you need to discuss?”

“I’d really rather talk with your father, but Audrey tells me his illness would prevent that, and that you stand in his stead as Audrey’s guardian.” Ellison gave Noah a half-smile.

“True. What of it, Ellison?” Noah’s eyes narrowed.

The other man took a deep breath and his wicked gaze slipped back to Griffin. “I am here to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage.”

Griffin did his best to control his reaction to the stunning words coming from Ellison’s mouth. Though he wanted to leap up from the chair and wrench Audrey away from the blackguard at her side, he somehow remained seated, staring up at his enemy with what he hoped was an unaffected expression.

Beside him, Noah drew back. Griffin could tell he, too, was struggling with the proper reaction to this news.

Finally, his friend spoke, “I see. Is this what you desire, Audrey?”

Griffin held his breath as he waited for her to answer in the negative. Surely this game had gone too far if Audrey was willing to become engaged to the evil man at her side.

She turned her head to look from the corner of her eye. Her face was pale, but determined as she said, “Yes.”

And at that moment, Griffin’s entire world screeched to a halt. He couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Audrey couldn’t have… wouldn’t have… agreed to this farce. Not after she’d turned down his proposal earlier in the week. This was lunacy!

A long pause engulfed the room. Finally Noah broke it.

“Very well.” He rose and walked over to the couple. “Ellison, I don’t like what went on between my sister and you last night, but I see you’re trying to amend it by taking her hand. Congratulations.”

Noah held out his hand and the other man took it, shaking it even as Noah glared in warning at Griffin over his shoulder. Ellison turned to Griffin with a triumphant smile as he dragged Audrey over to stand before him. With dancing gray eyes, he held out his hand.

“I hope I have your congratulations, as well, Lord Berenger,” Ellison said with a sneer. “Since you are such a good friend to the family.”

Slowly, Griffin rose, taking his time so Ellison would get the full effect of his superior height. He was pleased when just a touch of fear lit up in the other man’s eyes. With great effort, he extended his hand to Douglas and ground out, “Of course, Ellison. My heartiest congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you,” Audrey whispered without meeting his gaze.

“Well-” Noah’s voice seemed very distant to Griffin. “-you and I have much to talk about then, Douglas. Perhaps you’ll come for a walk with me in the garden so we may speak privately about your future with my sister.”

Ellison nodded. “Yes.” Turning back to Audrey, he smiled. “I shall see you later, my love.”

Lifting her hand, he kissed it, then left the room. Immediately, Audrey’s face fell and she shivered as if she’d been holding the shiver in for hours.

Hannah glanced from one to the other, then patted Audrey’s hand. “I’ll let you have a moment.”

When she’d left and closed the door. Audrey turned to him with a miserable face. “Griffin-”

“Don’t.” He wasn’t sure he could take any explanations from her at the moment.

“Please, let me tell you why.”

“I know why.” He turned to the bar and poured himself the strongest drink he could stand. “You want to solve your precious case. You want to be done with it and out of my life as soon as possible.”