Page 20 of His Wicked Secret
Poor dear, he must be hoping I can help him find Gillian.
“James!” she greeted, hugging him. Her brother would have disapproved of such openness, but she thought of James as a brother. There was no risk of such an embrace being construed by James as romantic.
“Do come into the drawing room. I’ll send for tea.”
“Thank you. Tea would be wonderful.”
Once inside the drawing room, she motioned for him to sit while she poured from the tray Sean had brought in. She could feel James watching her, no doubt wondering about last night and how she’d ended up in such a dreadful situation.
James cleared his throat. “How are you after last night’s adventure? I’m afraid that in the chaos we could not avoid getting separated. I trust Mr. St. Laurent escorted you safely home?”
She handed him his tea and then seated herself. “Oh yes, we were fine.”He certainly escorted me home, just not to mine,she thought with a chuckle. She sipped her tea, noticing James had waited until she did to take a sip. How long would it take for him to ask about Gillian? He knew it would be highly improper, but he would sooner or later, she knew it.
“And Miss Beaumont? Did she return safely to you this morning?”
Audrey bit the inside of her lip to hide her smile. He was besotted; it was clear in his brown eyes. They were searching hers for any hint, any word about Gillian, anything to give him hope.
“I missed seeing her depart earlier,” he added.
She smiled. “Yes, she did. Thank you for taking such good care of her, James. Gillian is quite dear to me, you understand. One of my closest friends.”
“Is she?” He scooted forward, eager for any details she would share. Audrey ignored the twinge of guilt she felt, but if she was to help them get together, some small deceptions would be required.
“Yes, we’ve known each other for three years. Since we were sixteen. I trust her with all my secrets.All of them.” She hoped he understood her meaning. As Lady Society, she was a target now for men like Gerald Langley.
James placed his cup on the lacquered table. “She knows of your…occupation?”
She nodded. “And I hope you will keep that knowledge hidden as well, my lord.”
His brown eyes turned serious. “No one shall hear it from me, but I fear your secret is no longer safe. After last night, it is quite clear that men like Gerald Langley will be out for revenge. You must take care. Both of you. Langley has seen Miss Beaumont’s face, and I fear some harm could come to her.” He picked up his cup and took a sip. “Is there any way I might see her again?”
Audrey pretended to study him critically, as though debating her answer.
“That depends. What are your intentions, James?” She waited, watching to see if he would be able to ask her what he should or if she would have to take pity on him and suggest it herself. “As Lady Society, I don’t only challenge the conventions of thetonwith my exposé articles; I do other things as well.”
His eyes lit up with hope. “Yes, I hear you are a matchmaker. And I’m here, begging you to help me win over Gillian, Miss Beaumont, that is.” He sounded somewhat desperate, but she understood. When you cared about a person and wanted to be with them, it filled you with that desperation.
She put her cup of tea down and folded her hands in her lap as she leaned toward him, keeping her voice low. “I must ask you a question. Honesty matters, so it would be wise for you to give me only the truth.”
James mirrored her by leaning in. “Of course.”
“Do you love her?”
“Love?” He paused, his gaze contemplative. “I haven’t known her long enough to be certain of love, but I know that from the moment I met her something seemed to fit when I am with her. Like pieces of a puzzle sliding into place or the way the sea and the shore come together. I feel tied to her in a way that defies a more rational explanation. She is intelligent, compassionate, and brave. Everything I would want from a partner in my life.”
“And beautiful?” He had left out the thing most men focused on first and foremost when choosing a wife or mistress. She fought off a grin as she teased him.
James continued to look at her seriously. “Of course. But beauty is not merely that of one’s face and form. It extends far deeper, into the mind and soul. That beauty grows with time rather than fades.”
His words filled her heart with warmth. James was even better than she had hoped. He truly was perfect for Gillian. She leaned back in her chair. It was time to test him further. “After such a brief encounter, you can hardly know her well. What if your assumptions about her were misplaced?”
Confusion clouded his face. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“If you chose to be with her and it caused your life to crumble down around you, what then? Would you regret it? Would you abandon her, wish you had never met her?” She held her breath, waiting to see if he would prove he was the man she thought he was.
He and I are so alike. We fight for our love, fight until we are certain of victory or defeat. I lost my war, but James still has a chance to win his. I won’t let him give up.
He lowered his head, staring into this teacup before he replied. “What about Gillian’s life?”
