Page 34 of His Wicked Secret
He leaned down a little, his gaze dropping to her lips. “Never slap when you can punch.”
She held very still, her right hand trapped as their eyes remained locked on each other. She balled her left fist just as he had taught her and punched him on the jaw.
He hissed in pain as he released her. Audrey stepped back to give him time to collect himself and to avoid any retaliation he might have in mind. His proud smile surprised her.
“Nowthatwas an excellent display of what you learned today. Well done, little sprite, well done indeed.”
Audrey was so confused that she turned and ran from the room. She didn’t stop until she reached her chambers. She collapsed on her bed, trembling from head to foot, utterly confused. Like always, he had stunned her and left her completely unsure of anything.
Except that wasn’t true. He had been proud of her. A disinterested man wouldn’t show pride, would he? She held up her left hand. It was red and her fingers ached, but she suddenly had the desire to laugh. She’d learned how to strike back, had improvised as well, and he had been pleased.
She rolled onto her back on the bed and spread her arms wide, grinning. She was going to stay here awhile, enjoy a few more hours being in breeches before she had to confine herself to a dress once again for dinner. Luckily, she would not be missed in the meantime. A large house party had many benefits, the best one affording guests time to slip away to rest or conduct solitary activities.
As she lay there, she wondered what Gillian was up to. How had she and James faced being left alone? Audrey sincerely hoped they had done something enjoyable like riding or walking in the gardens.
Gillian learns to be wooed, and I learn to fight.She couldn’t stop giggling. What a day it had been.
10
“What happened to you?” Lucien straightened in his chair, alarm filling his gaze. Jonathan had just entered Lucien’s study and gingerly touched his jaw. By the feel of it, he was going to bruise.
“I may have had a tussle with one of the other guests.”
“Oh?”
“Nothing serious,” Jonathan said with a wry grin.
“Nothing serious? You’re turning blue on the chin.”
“I may have been teaching a certain little sprite to defend herself. She may have gotten the better of me.”
Lucien laughed almost as heartily as Charles had.
“I didn’t tell you so you can be amused at my expense,” Jonathan grumbled.
“I’m sure you didn’t, but dammit, man, you cannot deny it is amusing.” Lucien leaned back in his chair and propped his boots up on the edge of his desk. “Anyway, I hope you didn’t come here for advice on seducing Sheridan women. Audrey is very different from Horatia.Very. My love is sweet, shy, and gentle.”
“And Audrey is none of those.” Well, that wasn’t true; she certainly had her sweet moments. Just not with him.
“So, your grand plan to wooing her is lessons in self-defense?”
“Yes, it was something she wanted.”
“I will grant you it is an original plan, but I am not sure you properly thought it through.”
Jonathan opened and closed his mouth, testing his sore jaw. “Part of me certainly regrets it. She has a bloody good left hook.”
Lucien burst out laughing again, but the sound of the dinner gong changed that to a groan.
“Lord, I do miss our intimate dinners with the League. This house party nonsense is not at all my preferred way to spend the evening. And for a week, no less.” Lucien’s despondent look almost made Jonathan laugh.
Before either of them could say more, Charles burst into the study, his face tense.
“I’m glad I found both of you here.” He lifted up a newspaper as he walked over to them. “This was delivered an hour ago. Linley saw something rather important when he was setting it out for me.” He set the paper down on the desk.
Jonathan and Lucien both leaned over to see the article Charles pointed to. TheMorning Postsociety section typically posted about births, marriages, and deaths. One name among them stood out.
“Mr. Gerald Langley was found dead in a residence close to Twinings tea shop,” Lucien read aloud. “It is believed he took his life as a matter of honor, leaving a letter to his family. There have been disconcerting rumors for the last few months regarding Mr. Langley, which may have contributed to his action. Mr. Langley is survived by his sister, Hillary Clifford… Langley is dead? Isn’t that the fellow who Lady Society thoroughly humiliated in her column?”
