“Hmm, I’m sorry. Just woolgathering,” she said with a weak smile. “What were you saying, my lord?”
“I was asking if you two would like a bit of tea. I’ve had a tray put in the South Parlor. Unless you’d prefer to go upstairs and rest after your long journey?”
She nodded. “No, tea would be fine.”
Griffin moved to take her arm, but Audrey took Noah’s before their host could touch her. He frowned slightly but then motioned them down the hallway toward the sitting room.
As Audrey settled onto an ottoman in the parlor, she stared around her. The house hadn’t changed much.
“Your parents used to come here quite often, didn’t they?” she asked.
“Yes.” Griffin grinned. “Although as Earl Father had a much grander house in the city, I believe he and my mother were nostalgic for the days when they first married and he held the title I now hold. They loved this place.”
“So did I.” Audrey sighed. “As we were coming up the drive, I was remembering all the times Noah and I came here and the havoc the three of us wreaked.”
“You used to follow us around!” Noah said with a grin. “We wreaked the havoc.”
“Well, I stand corrected,” she said in a haughty tone before dissolving into a light laugh.
She glanced over to find Griffin staring at her again. When their eyes met he quickly broke the stare. She chided herself for wishing he’d held her gaze a moment more.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Yes, there were many happy times here. I had forgotten them over the past few years. It’s good to have you both here to remind me.”
Audrey wrinkled her brow as the sadness she had sensed in him before suddenly returned. She reached for a topic that was safe. For the moment, her mind was blank. The only subject she could think of was Luci Berenger. That was obviously the very last thing Griffin wanted to discuss.
Why did this place made him so unhappy? Luci and their unborn child had died at their country estate. But perhaps memories of the happy life they’d shared in London were too much for him to bear.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Audrey turned to find the butler standing at the door. He bowed smartly and said, “A Mr. Ellison has arrived. Should I allow him in, my lord?”
Griffin didn’t answer, keeping his eyes fixed on Audrey for a moment more before his butler’s words seemed to sink in. Finally, he nodded.
“Yes, Cotter, that would be fine. Show the gentleman in.”
After the man was gone, Griffin turned to Audrey, his gaze intense. “I must state again that I have qualms about this whole arrangement.”
Noah nodded. “Because of that, I thank you all the more for your help.”
Griffin frowned, but before he could protest further, Ellison entered the room. The bitter stench of Macassar oil preceded him, nearly gagging Audrey before she smoothed the reaction from her face and rose.
“Mr. Ellison,” she gushed, holding out a hand to the man. “What a pleasure it is to see you again.”
In comparison to Griffin, Douglas Ellison looked small and weak. He was much shorter, only slightly taller than Audrey. His oily black hair was slick with the smelly hair tonic he used to put it into place. As always, his gray eyes, slid up and down her body greedily before he placed a kiss on her hand.
“Lady Audrey, I’m so glad you have arrived in London at last.” He maintained his grip on her hand a fraction longer than was necessary.
She forced a smile as her stomach turned. She was accustomed to the sensation, as it was her general reaction anytime Ellison touched her. She turned her face and was surprised to see Griffin’s eyes narrow. He looked ready to kill over Ellison’s unwanted familiarity.
But that was ridiculous. Griffin only cared that Ellison was a blackguard and a traitor, not about anything else. When it came to her, there had never been anything else at all.
***
Griffin hated Douglas Ellison with his dandified clothing, the starched collars that nearly touched his ears and his slick hair. He hated the way the man looked at Audrey as if she were already his property. But most of all, he hated that Audrey took his neighbor’s arm with what looked like genuine pleasure, even though he knew it wasn’t. She was no more than a practiced liar.
Just like Luci.
Running a hand through his hair, Griffin held back a groan of displeasure. Audrey was nothing like Luci. That he’d even considered the possibility made him seethe inside.
“Berenger?”
Griffin realized with a start that Ellison was daring to refer to him as if he were a familiar.
“Yes, Ellison, I apologize. What was that?”
Griffin ground his teeth. He wouldn’t do anything to break Noah and Audrey’s cover, even if he wanted to rise up and pummel Ellison into unconsciousness.
“I was saying how sorry I was to hear about your wife,” Ellison repeated. “Pretty woman, Lucinda.”
As he fought his desire to crush Ellison, Griffin caught Audrey’s gaze. Her face was soft with concern, almost as if she understood his feelings. But how could she?
“Lady Berenger died too young,” he choked out. “I thank you for your sympathy.”
Ellison’s face lit with the slightest of smirks. “You’re welcome.”
“Well,” Noah said as he rose to his feet. “I’m certain you’d like a moment alone with Audrey since you two haven’t seen each other for so long. Griffin, didn’t you want to show me some sketches in your office?”
Griffin blinked in disbelief. Were they about to leave Audrey alone with this traitor, this murderer?
“I…” he stammered.
Noah came to his side and motioned for him to lead them from the room.
Griffin had no choice but to do so, but he threw one look over his shoulder at Audrey before he left. Not that she noticed. She had already turned her entire attention to the man sitting beside her. It was as if Griffin didn’t exist. A fact that boiled his blood.
As he and Noah moved down the hallway, he snapped, “You’re leaving her alone with him?”
“Calm down,” Noah said. “The door is open. It’s perfectly acceptable for them to have a moment or two alone.”
“Do you have any idea what can happen In a moment or two?” Griffin asked through clenched teeth.
Noah rolled his eyes. “He’s not daft. Ellison wouldn’t dare try anything in this house with you and me just down the hall. And if Audrey cannot be alone with the man, she can’t very well do her job.”
Griffin understood his friend’s reasoning, but he bloody well didn’t have to like it. He opened the door to his study and slammed it behind them. He stalked over to mix Noah a drink. His friend arched an eyebrow at his emotional reaction before sinking into one of the plush leather chairs.
Griffin smashed the tumbler down on the side board. “Damn her job. She shouldn’t have to sell herself like some kind of…”
“Hey!” Noah interrupted, half-rising from his chair to clench his fists. “Audrey is a good agent, but she isn’t a whore. You would do well not to forget that in either my presence or hers.”
Griffin barely held back a curse. Again, he’d been comparing Audrey to his late wife, but he had no right to do so.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“I don’t care what you meant or didn’t mean.” Noah snatched the drink Griffin offered. “Why the hell does her work matter to you so much anyway?”
Griffin downed his drink in one swig. Did he have an answer for that question? Certainly not a satisfying one. “She’s an old… friend. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“Hmmm,” Noah muttered. “Just be sure your ‘protectiveness’ isn’t what ends up hurting her in the end, old man, or you’ll have to deal with me. Because I fear you have more ability to harm her than Douglas Ellison could even fathom.”