Page 21 of His Wicked Secret
“Pardon?”
“Well, you say being with her might crumble my life down around me, but would it similarly damage hers? If so, then I would have no choice but to spare us both that pain. But if you are talking about my life alone…well, I believe there are certain people in this life who are worth the heartache and difficult times. For me, Gillian is that woman. I truly believe she is worthanything.”
She smiled at his response. “I must warn you. Gillian’s life has not been easy, and she has secrets of her own. Secrets she believes will hurt any man she loved if they were ever discovered. Are you brave enough to face her when she tells you the truth?”
James frowned. “Is she in love with someone else? Is there another man with whom—”
“No, of course not!”
James’s shoulders dropped in open relief. “Then yes, I can brave the truth so long as I have a fighting chance to win her.”
“Good.” She clapped her hands together. “Then here’s what you must do. You will receive an invitation from my sister to attend a house party one week from now. You will accept. Gillian will be there. You will have your chance to win her then.”
“A week.” He mouthed the words, still frowning.
“You can be patient, can’t you, my lord?”
“Of course.” His soft sigh was oddly reassuring. He sounded as though he’d waited for her a very long time, and waiting a little longer was a survivable hardship.
“We shall see you in a week.” She rose from her chair, and he followed suit.
Audrey walked him back to the foyer, and Sean handed him his hat. He paused in the doorway, afternoon sunlight illuminating him like Gillian’s very own guardian angel. It filled Audrey with joy for her friend’s future happiness as well as envy, because she would never have a man who cared about her like James did Gillian.
But at least I can give her a happy life.
“Miss Sheridan, if you do see her, will you tell her—” His face turned red with his bashfulness. “Tell her that I’m thinking of her.”
“I shall,” Audrey promised. She watched him descend the steps and summon a coach. She would do everything in her power to use the house party to bring them closer together. Love would grow there, she was sure of it.
When she turned back around, she saw Gillian standing just outside the servants’ entrance.
“My lady?” The two words held a mountain of questions.
“Lord Pembroke came to see you.” She folded her hands in front of her and banished thoughts of Jonathan and her own melancholy from her mind. “He wanted to be sure you were all right. I let him know you were. Now, I’ve forgotten we’ve been invited to Lucien’s estate in a week and must begin packing.” She motioned for Gillian to come with her back to her chambers. “I want to bring my best gowns. And you will be accompanying me—not as a lady’s maid but as a lady.”
Gillian stared at her in horror. “I am?”
Audrey laughed. “Yes. We must work on our spy efforts. You especially must improve your ability to disguise yourself. If you look down or act deferential when you shouldn’t, you could get us both killed.”
“But—”
“No arguing. Let’s make a list of what we need to pack.” She had to do her best to keep both Gillian and herself distracted. There was every chance that Jonathan would not keep his promise to teach her to fight. And that was not something she wished to think about.
6
“I’ve never seen you like this.”
Jonathan turned toward Godric, not sure what he meant. Whenever he looked into his older brother’s face, it was like looking into a mirror except for his hair, which was far lighter than that of his older sibling. They even shared the same green eyes. How had neither of them realized they were brothers for nearly twenty-five years? The answer was painfully simple, he supposed. Godric was the Duke of Essex. Why on earth would Jonathan have even considered the possibility he was related to a duke? Or any noble house, for that matter?
“Like what?” he said at last.
“In such a fit of the blue devils.”
Jonathan stared at the gardens through the wide window of the drawing room. “I don’t wish to discuss it.” He’d gotten used to talking to Godric about almost everything, but admitting to his failures? That was not something any man wanted to talk about.
“It’s Audrey, isn’t it? Lucien mentioned last night that you were undecided about her.”
“I’m not undecided. That’s the problem.” He sighed heavily. If Godric wasn’t going to let it drop, he might as well admit the truth. “I want her for a wife, but she thinks I’m cold and arrogant and told me in no uncertain terms she doesn’t ever want to marry.”
