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other than a two or three?"
She grinned, and couldn t explain why she suddenly felt happy. Her luck
at the tables had always been a sore spot. "I have the worst luck with
dice."
"Are you any better at cards?"
"Not much," she said cheerfully. He laughed, and a spark of light burst
inside. Her lack of gaming skills had been the bane of their ring. She was
a dismal gambler. She had no luck with cards or dice, and the others had
forever been disappointed in her. Unbidden memories diminished the ray
of light, but a spark remained.
Stephen brushed a soft kiss on her cheek. "l wish I knew what dark
thoughts flash through your mind."
Before she could say anything, his hand grasped her cold one. "Let s
socialize."
He led her into the hallway. A few couples were scattered about, and
Travers and St. John stood talking near the library door. Two women
drunkenly danced, spinning each other in the middle of the hall.
Stephen caught one of the women as she careened into him.
The woman grabbed his shirt and suggestively slid herself up Stephen s
front as she regained her footing. "Welcome to our hall." She ran a hand
through his blond hair and twirled a lock in her fingers. "I think I ve
found a more surefooted dancing partner. And one with all the right
equipment."
Stephen disentangled himself and set her to St. John s side. The woman
pouted but clutched St. John s waist.
St. John smiled at Stephen and greeted him. They appeared to be friends.
Travers gave a tight nod. He turned to Audrey. "l don t believe I ve had
the pleasure of meeting your lovely companion."
Stephen paid Travers s show of temper little attention and Travers s eyes
narrowed even farther. Stephen introduced her as Diana, and Travers s
hand slithered over hers. He gave her hand a painful squeeze, and she
schooled her features so as not to flinch. "Such a virtuous goddess to
appear among such debauchery. One would think you would seek more
tranquil places."
She summoned a smile. It hurt. "Sometimes one has to traverse hell in
order to reach heaven."
Stephen was not smiling. Travers released her hand and turned, ignoring
her completely for the rest of the conversation. This gave Audrey a
chance to survey the hall. She'd have no better time to steal into St. John s
room. Travers s thinly veiled hint implied that he would keep them both
occupied.
Audrey excused herself to the ladies' retiring area and stepped down the
hall, made a few turns, then casually walked up the stairs.
She tried to still her racing heart. This was a routine job. She had a
perfectly secure place in her quiver to stash the papers. Stephen would
never know.
A gaggle of women dressed as various Greek goddesses walked past her
as she cleared the top step. Her luck was holding. If anyone asked about a
Greek goddess, they would say they had seen her descending the stairs
from the retiring room.
Audrey followed the maid s directions and turned right. The fifth door on
the left was locked. She removed one of the arrowheads and pulled out
her picklock key.
The lock was not a challenge, and she had it open a few seconds later. She
entered and closed the door behind her, relocking it to give her precious
time in case someone tried to enter. Papers were stacked neatly on the
dressing table. If her luck held, she d be back downstairs before being
missed.
She sifted through the papers until she found the ones Travers had
demanded. Something about smuggling activities in Cornwall. She took
the outer covering off of the quiver and rolled the papers inside. Snapping
the cover back on, she slipped it around her shoulders and walked toward
the door.
She froze as she watched the knob turn beneath her fingers. The only
good place to hide was inside the wardrobe. The dark, closed wardrobe.
She didn t have time to consider her decision or to face her fear when the
door opened. Flattening herself against the wall behind the door, she held
her breath and prayed. Maybe the person would leave before she was
discovered. If not, she would have to incapacitate the intruder or feign an
interest in a liaison.
A man stepped into the room and closed the door. Audrey s breath let out
in a whoosh when she saw him.
Stephen stood in front of her, his arms crossed. "I really wanted to believe
you."
"I can explain."
He shook his head. "What is Travers to you?"
"Nothing, I just met him."
"I don't think so, Audrey." He lifted her hand, and looked at her wrist,
where one of Travers s fingers had strayed. His face was angry. "A man
you barely know doesn t leave marks when he touches you." He
smoothed a gentle finger over the bruise. "The new assistant to the
Exchequer and I are going to have a few words before the evening is
through."
"No, Stephen." She snatched her hand away. She was a fast healer. If he
had only waited a few more minutes, the angry red marks would have
disappeared. "You are mistaken."
"I don't think so, Audrey," he repeated, and stepped closer, sliding a hand
into the back of her hair and pulling her closer. "Why are you here in St.
John s room? What message passed between you and Travers? Are you
robbing St. John under his orders?"
"No." In all respects Stephen was getting too close. She stepped back, and
his warm hand fell away. "I got lost on the way to the retiring room. The
ladies must have meant the fifth room down the left hall."
"Audrey." His voice was soft. "What did you take?"
"Take?" She sputtered indignantly. "I got lost "
"You re telling me that you accidentally ended up in St. John's room after
conveniently seeing that he and I were occupied? Is that your story?"
"Yes, it was an accident, and no, there was no 'conveniently' about it. "
"You asked for my help, but I wonder if this isn t all some elaborate ploy
in your grand theft scheme."
"No! How can you say that? I m here because you invited me here
tonight, not the other way around."
"You dishonored our agreement. You agreed to stop your illegal
activities."
"Yes, as soon as our plan is set into motion. But it hasn t yet begun." Her
voice rose marginally.
"So now you are arguing semantics? You know damn well what I
thought. Why should I trust you now?"
"My word is good."
"You haven't proven that to me yet."
"Damn it, this plan was put in motion long before our agreement."
Stephen latched on to the statement. "What was in motion? What are you
doing?"
"Nothing!"
"For once, can t you be honest with me? Even when you are caught, you
continue to lie."
Audrey was horrified to feel tears prick the back of her eyes. "I , I , I
can t."
His eyes softened a bit, and he stepped forward. The look in his eyes
further pricked her tears, and I she felt herself stepping forward too.
Loud voices travelled down the hall and stopped just outside of the door.
"Hurry."
Stephen grabbed her, opened the wardrobe, and threw her inside. The
tears instantly transformed into panic. "Stephen, no, wait-"
He flung himself inside and pulled the doors closed just as the door to the
room opened.
She was trapped. The walls were too close, too close.
"No, no, I can t breathe," she gasped.
Why wouldn t anyone help her? Couldn t anyone hear her scream? No
one to help you, no one to ever help . . .
Audrey was making confusing sounds. Her voice was barely a squeak.
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