The Secrets of a Lady by Jenna Petersen Page B

the door.
    Audrey wiped her mouth with the back of her glove and ground out, “He kissed me.”
    Hannah drew back in surprise and her face paled a shade. “He kissed you? I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone with that man!”
    “Shh, keep your voice down!” Audrey ordered. Her words sounded shrill in the echoing foyer. “Do you want everyone to-?”
    The door to the parlor flew open and Griffin appeared. He seemed bigger than she remembered, his broad shoulders filling the narrow door. He grasped the doorjamb with white-knuckled fingers.
    “You allowed him to put his hands on you?” he asked, his tone low and angry.
    “Oh, saints preserve us,” Audrey muttered under her breath as even more blood drained from her face. “Why do we have to do this tonight?”
    Griffin glared at her. “Go upstairs, Hannah.”
    Hannah shook her head firmly.
    “Oh no, sir. I fell for that trick once tonight. I won’t leave her with you. Not when you’re so angry you look like you could break the wall with your fist.” The Cockney accent Hannah had worked so hard to get rid of edged each word.
    Audrey finally dared to look at Griffin. He did look like he could explode with fury, yet she felt no fear being in his company. If she knew one thing for certain, he would never hurt her. At least, not physically. No, it was the emotional turmoil she feared most.
    And yet she couldn’t deny what a draw he remained to her.
    “Hannah,” she whispered. “You may leave us. I’ll be safe with Griffin.”
    Hannah turned to her. “Audrey…”
    With a nod she hoped would reassure her friend, Audrey whispered, “ Please .”
    Hannah hesitated, but with a glower for Griffin, finally turned to climb up the stairs.
    “What were you-” he began.
    “Shh.” Audrey put a finger to her lips. “If I must discuss this with you, let’s at least go into the parlor. There’s no need to share our argument with the entire household.”
    With an unreadable expression, Griffin stepped aside and motioned for her to enter the room behind him. She felt his body heat at her back as he closed the door. He passed by her to lean on the mantel then stared at her expectantly. Like a predator stalking his prey, waiting for the moment to pounce.
    And yet, that thought didn’t frighten her. In fact, she had to admit that, as she lost herself in his eyes, she actually looked forward to this brief stolen moment in time. No matter the consequences.
    ***
    How he managed to keep his emotions in check, Griffin didn’t know. As he clutched the mantel, he watched Audrey walk over to a chair by the fire and sink down as if she were exhausted. For a brief moment, his anger faded and he felt a strange longing to take her into his arms and comfort her. Then he thought of Douglas Ellison putting his mouth on hers and his anger returned with a vengeance.
    “How could you allow that man touch you?” he choked out.
    Audrey responded by raising her still-gloved hands to her eyes. When she dropped them, she didn’t answer his question, but slowly began peeling the sheaths from her hands.
    At the seemingly simple gesture, Griffin felt himself slipping under a seductive spell. One by one, she freed her fingers, then slid the glove from her hand to place it on the table beside her before repeating the action with the other.
    “Fix me a drink,” she ordered softly as she focused her attention away from him toward the fire.
    Swallowing, Griffin did as he was told, happy for the chance to turn away from her before her unexpected effect over him became more than apparent.
    Crossing over to the bar, he stared at the line of decanters. The last time Audrey had had a drink in his presence, he’d tasted the scotch on her lips. With a smile, he poured her a tumbler of his best. It wasn’t a lady’s drink, but he wondered if she would remember its significance.
    Taking the glass he offered, she sipped it, then her midnight gaze flashed up to meet his briefly. She did