Chapter Ten
“How is Lady Theodora?” Audrey asked when she admitted her brother to the house. Her uncle was to return to London tomorrow. It would be the last such night they would spend together. “Why did you not tell me what occurred when you and Lord Duncan departed that first day?”
“I did not wish you to worry,” Marksman admitted as he placed his hat and gloves on a table situated at the side of the kitchen.
They rarely sat together in any of the other rooms. Audrey wished to keep her life with Alexander, and especially with Lord Beaufort, separate from her time with her uncle and Caroline.
“Then Lady Theodora is well?” Audrey asked. “I do not always agree with—though I should say, always understand, Lady Theodora’s purposes, but I would not wish harm upon her head.”
“Dora knew the man who abducted her,” her brother explained.
“He had escorted her on several occasions previously. You saw him when we all walked together in the park. Though I was not aware, at the time, she proved to be a bit frightened of him, as well she should have been, but none of us thought he meant to ruin her. Naturally, we hope to contain the situation as much as possible.”
“Do you plan to marry the lady?” Audrey asked as she set out the plates.
“I always thought I would. Some of my first memories of living with Duncan I share with Theodora. I learned to read at her side, when her nanny was teaching her. When she cried because she had no mother, I always promised to one day find my mother and you and share you both with her. In that manner, we could both have a mother and she could have a sister. I told Dora stories about you. She was the only one who seemed to understand. Except for Thompson, who you have not officially met, though he was part of the initial group watching this house, the others have lost both their parents and had no hope of reclaiming family, but it was only Theodora who seemed to comprehend that my loss was different from all the others. We have always gravitated towards each other. I suppose Beaufort told you of what occurred.”
“Only because I was worried that something had happened to you. When you left after returning the papers, you offered no explanation. All Beaufort said was that your absence had something to do with Lady Theodora. He said Lord Duncan’s daughter had taken to her bed,” Audrey explained.
Now that Annalise had asked, she was sorry she had brought up the subject, for, apparently, her brother had not meant to tell her of what had occurred.
“I know I should not say this, but Beaufort has a reputation of sorts. I would not wish you to place your hopes on the earl,” her brother warned.
“His lordship has been all that was kindness,” Audrey protested while knowing her brother’s warning likely held merit.
“Beyond saving me and this house from the fire, Lord Beaufort has saved my sanity. I was so terribly frightened, but, after his lordship and I became friends, foolish though it may sound to say the words aloud, I no longer feared my uncle not returning. Though Lord Beaufort did not initially know of our connection, I believe he would not have permitted me to be abandoned to the streets of London.”
Her brother’s features screwed up as if he meant to object, but whatever thought he meant to speak, Alexander swallowed. “You will never be required to depend upon Lord Beaufort’s generosity.”
Audrey did not comment, for her feelings for Lord Beaufort were quite confusing. Once Alexander claimed her, she had been secretly hoping Lord Beaufort would choose to court her for she would be part of society.
“I will hire a companion for you and a lady’s maid,” her brother explained. “Then we will see to your being brought out properly into Society. You will soon reach your majority and can make your own decisions, but I hope you will still wish for my opinions.”
“I shall depend upon your knowledge of English society,” she assured him.
As they enjoyed the meal her brother’s cook had prepared, Alexander discussed in some detail what would occur with the return of Honfleur and Caroline. “I am not happy to leave you under Honfleur’s care,” Alexander admitted.
“Yet, if I do not stay,” Audrey reminded him, “your investigation would be in peril. When I leave Amgen House to come to you, I wish to do so with the knowledge I made a difference. I have foolishly participated in other shams, but nothing of this magnitude.”
“Just promise me you will walk away if it proves to be too much. Honfleur will be desperate, and desperation will make him more dangerous than ever. He will be like a mongrel dog who is cornered—fighting for his life and not considering who he is harming.”
“I promise.”
Later, after Alexander had departed, another knock brought Lord Beaufort to her door. “I was hoping I would see you again,” Audrey told him.
“I wanted to know with confidence you were still set to use the means we devised for you to signal if you required assistance. I actually brought you extra candles that you might hide in case Honfleur denies you the basic necessities. I have also brought you some dried meat and such. From what you have described previously, I expect Moreau to up his threats against you. It is a technique that many men use to control the women in their lives. Belittling. Demanding that the woman prove she is loyal. Does your uncle not also demand obedience from his daughter?”
“I suppose so,” Audrey said, but she had never thought of Caroline being subjected to her uncle’s discipline in the same manner as was she.
“Though Caroline is more willing to do whatever my uncle suggests. I imagine it is because Uncle Jacobi confides in Caroline and depends upon her. He instructs her, and she is willing to perform to his standards.”
Beaufort claimed her hand and held it in place. “I know my comment will likely make you uncomfortable, but I must ask something important. Was it your uncle’s idea that his daughter kiss you at the inn?”
Audrey was on her feet immediately. “Why is this so important? Alexander asked about this incident this evening also, but I saw him when he left the inn. How did you…” she began, but realization arrived. “You were there! But why did Caroline not recognize you?”
“I was wearing a fake beard and wig,” he admitted, “and was seated in the shadows. Moreover, like your uncle, Lady Caroline was too assured that they had managed to outwit the British government to take a true look around the inn.”
Audrey collapsed in a nearby chair and placed her head down on her folded arms on the table. “How many witnessed my shame?” she moaned. “I did not know what to do. Caroline has always been the one to protect me.”
He came around to kneel beside her. “I am confident your brother said something about how he would support you if such was your choice, but…”
“You would not,” she declared without looking up.
“I did not say I would approve or disapprove,” he declared with a squeeze of the back of her hand. “I simply meant to suggest that if such is your choice, you should consider living in France after this madness is over.”
She looked up to meet his steady gaze. “I have never held hands with a gentleman nor danced nor…”
“You are holding my hand at this very moment,” he said softly as he lifted her fingers to his lips to place a soft kiss on her knuckles.
“You danced with Marksman, before either of you knew of your connection, and you danced with me in both the garden and the training room.” He sighed, and so did she, as the moment stretched further to maintain their connection.
At length, she pulled her hand free from his. His so-called assurances were a painfully awkward reminder of what her life had been. She stood quickly, swiping away the tears before too many of them arrived.
“Ah, hell, sweetheart. I was being an arse. I made you cry.” He stood also and caught her shoulders before fishing out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears before pulling her into his arms to protect her.
His body exuded the warmth she had dreamed of since arriving in London.
It was a warmth she had not known since her mother’s passing—not even when Alexander embraced her.
Her hand rested over his heart. The steadiness of the rhythm presented her with the calmness she had never known. Heartened by his lordship’s show of support that only this man managed to instill in her, she lifted her hands to rest on his shoulders.
“You are playing with fire, my lady,” he warned, as he lightly kissed the warm drum of her pulse near her ear. When she did not object, with an eager moan his mouth covered hers.
Instead of shoving him away, Audrey found her arms circling his neck, tugging him closer.
It was not fair how his kiss had caused her to lose all reason.
She knew better. Beaufort was a hard man—a man who had known great devastation.
A man who based all his decisions—even the one to kiss her—on logic and reason.
Emotions, such as affection or even love, would never factor into his decisions.
Unfortunately, Audrey was not worldly, though she had seen a great portion of it, and her decisions were, generally, based on what felt right, and, in this moment, being in Lord Beaufort’s arms felt perfect.
Her mouth parted beneath the urgency of his.
Even flavored by the wine they had shared, he tasted incredible.
She thought she could remain as such forever, but he evidently thought otherwise, because he suddenly ripped his mouth from hers and took a giant step backwards.
Followed by another. “I apologize, my lady. I should not…”
She raised her hand to prevent his words. “Do not… do not say you regret this moment. Though my uncle was angry, I truly did not regret my dance with Alexander, for I may never have known another.”
“You are the daughter and sister of an earl,” he argued.