tightened.
“I find it flabbergasting that you’ll pledge to marry a man who could kill you, yet you deny me.” He accentuated his barb with a smile, as if he’d said something utterly charming.
Drawing in a sharp breath through her nose, she tried to maintain the thin grasp on her control. “You’re being unfair. You know this is a farce until I get the information I need. With you it would be a real lifetime.”
“And that is still distasteful to you.”
She shook her head at his flat statement. “Griffin.”
“Watching you pretend to care for him is…” He trailed off as if it were indescribable.
“I know,” she interjected gently. “But if Jean can obtain the information we need tonight, all this will be over.”
Griffin said something else, but Audrey didn’t hear it. At that moment, a man pushed through the crowd to Ellison’s side. He was a burly fellow who Audrey recognized as Douglas’s driver. He spoke in Ellison’s ear for a moment, then her false fiance’s eyes widened and he said something back. When his face came fully into view, he looked angry. His pale skin had darkened to an ugly red.
Her steps faltered as she watched the two men. Why did Ellison look ready to kill?
“Audrey?” Griffin asked as he tried to catch her eye. “What is it?”
The orchestra played the final strains of the song and Audrey pulled from his arms. “Good evening, Lord Berenger. Thank you for the dance.”
Though Griffin said her name again, Audrey kept walking away from him and back to Douglas’s side. Later she would explain why, but for the moment, getting to the villain before her was much more important.
Ellison beamed at her, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I felt like you were gone for an age.”
“Yes,” she murmured, trying not to show how much she hated his insincerity. “I saw your driver approach you. You seemed upset about what he told you. Is anything amiss?”
“You’re very observant,” he said in a noncommittal tone.
Audrey smiled. “It isn’t every day that a giant, burly driver in work boots clomps through a ballroom. He was hard to miss.”
Ellison’s eyes widened at that comment, as if he hadn’t even thought about the impropriety of the situation. “I suppose you’re right, my dear. I shall have to speak to Gregoire about that.” The anger in his voice was taut and just below the surface.
Audrey briefly wondered if she’d just caused Gregoire injury, but pressed on at any rate. Her smile became sweet as sugar. “And then there’s the fact that I am now your fiancee. I would be a sad wife indeed if I didn’t notice your moods. It must have been important for him to intrude on such an event and risk your wrath.”
Douglas’s mouth turned down in a grim line. “It was. I don’t want you to be alarmed, my dear, but someone attempted to break into my home this evening.”
Audrey’s stomach turned. Jean…
“My God, Douglas,” she stammered, surprised at how calm her voice remained even while her insides were quivering with fear. “That’s terrible.”
“Yes. Luckily my guards shot the man.”
“Oh!” The little outburst left her lips before she could control it. Ellison arched an eyebrow.
“You seem very upset by this, Audrey. Are you quite well?”
She used all her power to focus. “Yes. I–I’ve never handled violence well.” She hesitated. “Was the man… killed?”
Ellison’s eyebrow arched a second time. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t think to inquire about the condition of the animal who broke in to my home, only if all my valuables were intact.”
Audrey nodded, but her movements were jerky. “Well, it’s a relief the man was stopped. I hope no great damage was caused.”
Douglas tilted his head to look at her through narrowed eyes. “I’m sure no permanent damage.”
“Perhaps I should find my brother. I’ve neglected him all night and would like to dance with him before it gets too late and the party comes to an end.”
“Of course.” One corner of Douglas’s mouth came up in a half smile. “Family is very important.”
Swallowing back her own fear, Audrey brushed her fingertips across Ellison’s hand. “I hope you’ll save a final waltz for me.”
His eyes widened at her touch and the sultry innuendo she’d forced into her voice. “I certainly shall.”
“Thank you.”
Her hands shook as she crossed the room, blind to the people around her. All she could think about was Jean with his crooked smile and laughing eyes. Why it had only been a few weeks before when he’d slipped into Griffin’s house and surprised her. Now he was hurt, perhaps dead.
She kept moving, but covered her mouth to keep a wail from escaping. Finally she saw Noah standing beside a table covered with punch bowls and fruit. Griffin was with him.
“Noah.” Her voice was hoarse. “Noah.”
Her brother turned from his friend, and catching sight of her pale face and worried eyes set down his drink at once.
“What is it?”
Griffin stiffened. “Did that bastard put his hands on you again?”
“No.” She grasped Noah’s coat with both hands and looked up into her brother’s handsome face. “It isn’t me. It’s Jean.”
“Your friend?” Griffin asked. “And you might want to smile, Ellison is watching.”
Somehow she forced a broad smile onto her face and Noah laughed as if she had been telling an amusing story.
“He’s been shot. Ellison’s guards caught him at the house and they…” she choked on the words, but quickly composed herself. “They shot him. He may be dead, I don’t know.”
Noah never allowed his false smile to leave his face even as his eyes dulled and his skin paled. “My God. Not Jean.”
“Dance with me,” Audrey said, “Because Ellison expects it. Griffin, I promise I will fill you in on what we speak about later.”
Slowly, she turned her eyes to him and found a surprised look on his face.
“You don’t need to share the details with me,” he said with firm assurance. “After all, this is your case.”
This time it was Audrey who was surprised. Though Griffin was worried about her, he had finally respected her position. She felt the strongest urge to give that respect back to him.
“But you’re involved in it now.” she said softly. “So you have a right to know what’s happening.”
Griffin nodded. “Very well.”
***
“Thank God this evening is over.” Audrey stepped into the foyer and allowed the footman to take her wrap. When the young man had gone, she looked at Griffin anxiously. “Do you think Noah is home yet?”
Griffin looked at her with an understanding smile. He’d been impressed with her skill that night. After their dance, Noah had gone to find Lord Golding and had disappeared soon after. Audrey had been forced to return to Ellison’s side and pretend to be the doting fiancee for the remainder of the evening, all while she worried about her friend and his life. Though she’d hidden it well with smiles and laughter, Griffin had seen the terror in her eyes. God help her if Ellison had seen the same.
“If he is, he’s likely in my study,” he said as he offered her a steadying arm. How he wished he could comfort her, but during this time he could do nothing. Only when she knew Jean was alive and unharmed would she relax. Until then, he was helpless.
The study was empty when they entered and Audrey sighed.
“This isn’t right.” She sat down with a thump and rubbed her eyes. “If the news were good, Noah would have come directly to us. Poor Jean, my dear friend…”
“Stop that!” Griffin poured her a strong drink to calm her nerves. “We know nothing. I’ve seen you work long enough to know you’re a good spy. And a good spy makes no assumptions. Perhaps Jean is fine, and is simply being debriefed. Perhaps he came away with the evidence you needed and Noah and Lord Golding are making their arrests right now.”
