Griffin Stone: Duke Of Decadence (Dangerous Dukes Book 3)

by Carole Mortimer

  He seemed to be fighting a constant battle within himself where she was concerned. The need to be close to her, to make love to her again, was set beside the knowledge that he did not have that right. That Bea belonged to another man.

  Even if she had chosen not to speak to him of that man, as yet.

  How could she, when he had taken such liberties? When just to think of the two of them together last night must now cause her immeasurable embarrassment and guilt?

  No, better by far that he respect her silence, and the distance now between them, rather than cause them both further embarrassment.

  ‘Griffin, do you think that I should go to—?’

  ‘No!’ he protested violently.

  Her eyes opened wide at his vehemence. ‘You do not know what I was about to say.’

  ‘Oh, but I do,’ he assured her dryly. ‘You have shown yourself to be both a courageous and resourceful woman this past week.’

  ‘I do not believe that to be true.’ She shook her head sadly.

  ‘Oh, but it is,’ Griffin countered. ‘You are very determined. What’s more you have refused to allow fear to dictate your movements. Consequently it is not in the least difficult for me to reason that you are thinking of offering yourself up as human bait, by going to your uncle and aunt’s home in the hope that one or both of them might give themselves away as being involved in this plot of treason and kidnapping.’

  As that had been exactly Bea’s intention, she could not help but feel slightly put out that Griffin had so easily guessed what she had been about to suggest. ‘But surely it is the obvious answer to this dilemma? A way of knowing, without doubt, if one or both of my relatives are involved, when I am able to see their reaction to my safe and unexpected return?’

  ‘And what if that should turn out to be the case? What of the danger to yourself?’

  ‘What of the danger to that little eight-year-old boy?’ she said, tears glistening in her eyes. ‘Griffin, you do not believe that he might already be—’

  ‘No,’ Griffin assured her abruptly. ‘Certainly not.’

  Bea eyed him quizzically for several long seconds. ‘You are not a very good liar, Griffin,’ she finally murmured sadly. ‘At least, not when you are speaking to me.’

  He drew in a ragged breath as he thought of the abused state in which he had found Bea. For a young child to suffer such ill treatment would surely cause irrevocable emotional damage, as much as physical. Although they had no reason to suppose that Maystone’s grandson would be beaten, the boy was being held to ransom, and not because he personally was in possession of knowledge wanted by his kidnappers, as Bea apparently had.

  ‘You really have no idea of what it is you might have overheard to cause your abduction?’

  ‘None at all.’ She gave a pained grimace. ‘As far as I recall, it was just a weekend party, with the usual bored group of people attending.’

  Griffin wished he dare ask if Michael had been one of those people, but again knew it would not be fair to place Bea in such a place of awkwardness. ‘We will find Maystone’s grandson, Bea, have no fear,’ Griffin stated with determination. ‘And if anyone is going to visit the Lathams then it will be me,’ he added grimly.

  ‘But would it not look suspicious if you were to visit them again so soon?’

  He smiled tightly. ‘Not if my purpose was to make Sir Walter an offer for his new hunter. He will refuse, of course, and have the satisfaction of owning a piece of horseflesh he believes coveted by his neighbour.’

  ‘You must be terribly good at the secret work you do for the Crown,’ Bea murmured ruefully. ‘That is what you and the Duke of Sutherland do for Lord Maystone, is it not?’

  ‘We should not speak aloud of such things, Bea.’

  ‘But why do you do it, Griffin?’ She looked up at him in confusion. ‘Why have you chosen to deliberately put yourself in danger?’

  It had begun as a way for him to evade thoughts of his failed marriage and his dead wife, but had all too soon become a way of life. One that he did not think of so very much any more, but merely accepted the assignments he was given. Such as he had in his search for Jacob Harker.

  And instead he had found Bea.

  She had, he realised, become a part of his household this past week. Someone that he looked forward to seeing across the breakfast table every morning. To spending the mornings in companionable silence with. To talking and arguing with over dinner, as they conversed on a number of subjects, some of which they did not agree on, and a larger number of which they did.

  He could not imagine being here without Bea.

  And yet he knew that she must leave him.

  Not to go to the Lathams’ as yet. Not until they had first ascertained if the Lathams were directly involved in Bea’s kidnapping, and that of Maystone’s grandson. Or if they were merely remaining silent regarding Bea’s disappearance out of concern for their niece’s safety.

  But once that situation was concluded? Yes, then a home must be found for Bea, either by returning her to her uncle and aunt, or with some other relative if one or both of them should be revealed as being involved in these kidnappings.

  ‘There is no one to care what I do, and so I do what has to be done,’ Griffin answered her bluntly.

  Bea cared!

  She cared very much what happened to Griffin.

  Now and in the future.

  Even if he did not want or need her concern.

  ‘That is unfortunate—Your Grace!’ She turned concernedly to the Duke of Sutherland as he appeared in the doorway. ‘How is Lord Maystone feeling now?’

  He stepped into the room. ‘He wishes to speak with both of you now, if that is convenient?’

  ‘Why?’ Griffin eyed the other man suspiciously.

  Sutherland looked grim. ‘Best you speak to Maystone, Griff.’

  Griffin had a fair idea of what Aubrey Maystone wished to discuss with him—at this point in time the older man was feeling desperate enough to go to any lengths to achieve the return of his grandson.

  Even suggesting, as Bea had already done, that her immediate return to the Lathams’ home might bring forth the breakthrough in this impasse that was so sorely needed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘Absolutely not! I will not hear of it!’ Griffin barked furiously in reply to Maystone’s suggestion. The older man was looking very pale and tired as he lay back against the pillows in one of the guest bedchambers at Stonehurst Park.

  ‘But, Griffin—’

  ‘I tell you I will not hear of it, Bea!’ He turned that glare on her. ‘Whatever it is that Bea is supposed to know, she has no knowledge of it now—’ he turned back to the other two men ‘—and to even think of sending her back amongst that possible nest of vipers, completely unprotected, is totally unacceptable.’

  ‘But she will not be unprotected,’ Christian put in softly. ‘It has been proposed that I will accompany Lady Bea, along with her maid.’

  ‘She has no maid.’

  ‘Then we shall find her one,’ Christian said reasonably.

  Bea could not bear to be the cause of contention between Griffin and the gentlemen, who were obviously two of his closest friends. ‘It is no more than I offered to do myself just minutes ago, Griffin,’ she reminded softly.

  ‘And if you recall I turned down that offer. Unequivocally!’ he came back fiercely.

  ‘But surely you can see it is the only course of action that makes any sense?’ she reasoned. ‘I will go to Latham Manor, having travelled from my friend’s house under the kind protection of the Duke of Sutherland. At which time, my aunt and uncle will then either react with gladness at my safe return after my abduction, and so proving their innocence. Or they will both sincerely thank the Duke of Sutherland for having safely returned me from my visit
with friends, and we will know that in all probability my aunt has lied. It all makes perfect sense to me.’

  ‘It makes no sense to me!’ Griffin bit out as he ran an exasperated hand through his hair.

  ‘But—’

  ‘It is far too dangerous, Bea,’ he ground out harshly as he continued to glare down at her. ‘Added to which, I absolutely forbid it!’

  She sat back in surprise, not only at the fierceness of Griffin’s emotions, but also because he felt he had the right to forbid her to do anything.

  Admittedly he had been claiming to be her godfather and guardian this past week, as a means of explaining her presence here at Stonehurst Park, but it was a sham at best, and a complete untruth at worst. Griffin could not seriously believe that tenuous arrangement gave him the right to forbid any of her actions?

  ‘Have a care, Griff,’ Christian warned ruefully as he obviously saw the light of rebellion in her eyes. ‘It has been my experience, in my many dealings with my younger sister, Julianna, that it is a mistake for any man to forbid a strong-minded woman to do anything—unless he expects her to do the opposite. For myself, in regard to Julianna, I am more than gratified to have passed that particular responsibility over to Worthing!’ He grinned ruefully.

  Griffin drew in a harsh, controlling breath, well aware of the contrariness of a woman’s actions; he had been a married man for a year, after all.

  ‘This is all my fault,’ Maystone rallied apologetically. ‘For having suggested such a plan in the first place.’ His expression gentled as he looked up at Bea. ‘Perhaps Griffin is in the right of it, my dear, and we should not proceed with this.’

  ‘Griffin is most certainly not in the right of it!’ Bea stood up, her expression one of indignation, eyes glittering rebelliously as she glared at Griffin. ‘Lord Maystone’s suggestion is a sound one. And I shall do just as I please,’ she added challengingly as Griffin would have spoken. ‘I have no doubt I shall be perfectly safe under the protection of the Duke of Sutherland.’

  That was one of Griffin’s main objections to the plan!

  Besides the obvious one of Bea deliberately placing herself in the path of danger.

  Whether either of the Lathams were involved in her abduction or not, Bea’s reappearance at their home would still leave her vulnerable to the people who had been responsible. To Jacob Harker, at the very least.

  Besides which, if anyone was to act as Bea’s protector then it should be him. In this particular situation that was an impossibility, when the Lathams lived but a mile away from Stonehurst Park, and he was supposed to be unacquainted with the Lathams’ niece. And if Griffin could not be at her side, once she was returned to the uncertainty as to the innocence of the inhabitants of Latham Manor, then he could not, in all conscience, approve of Bea going there either.

  Or bear the thought of her spending so much time alone with Christian.

  Griffin knew his own nature well enough to realise he could be taciturn and brusque, and that his looks were not, and never would be, as appealing as Christian’s. Just as he knew Bea could not help but be charmed by the man, as so many other women in society had been and still were, if the two of them were to be so much together at Latham Manor.

  If Christian, charming and gentlemanly, were perforce to become Bea’s rescuer in Griffin’s stead.

  What made the situation worse was that Griffin knew how ridiculous it was for him to feel this way.

  Even petty and childish.

  Griffin knew he would be lying if he claimed to not already feel jealous at having to share Bea, first with Christian, and now with Maystone too.

  This current conversation was a prime example of just how frustrating he found having this situation taken out of his control! ‘I believe I should like to go to the library and discuss this alone with Bea, if you two gentlemen have no objection?’ He eyed the other two men stonily.

  ‘And if I should object?’ In point of fact, Bea did not have any objections to going anywhere with Griffin, but she did resent his high-handed attitude in not so much as consulting with her on the subject.

  He turned that stony gaze on her. ‘Do you?’

  She drew her breath in slowly, sensing, despite his chilling and controlled appearance, that Griffin was teetering on the edge of another explosion of temper. ‘I merely wish you to have the courtesy of consulting me,’ she finally replied softly.

  ‘Very well.’ His jaw had tightened. ‘If you would care to accompany me to the library, Bea, so that we might discuss this matter further and in private?’

  It was impossible, facing the three gentlemen as she was, for Bea to miss the knowing look that passed between Seaton and Lord Maystone, even if she did not quite understand it.

  ‘By all means I will accompany you to the library, Griffin. Gentlemen.’ She nodded politely to Sutherland and Maystone. ‘But be aware, Griffin,’ she added as he moved to politely open the door for her so that she might precede him out of the bedchamber, ‘I have no intention of allowing myself to be bullied. By you or anyone else,’ she warned as she swept past him and out into the hallway.

  Was it even sane of him, Griffin wondered as he had to hold back a smile as he accompanied Bea down the curved stairs to the library, to feel both admiration and frustration for her at one and the same time?

  Admiration for the way in which she had conducted herself just now.

  And frustration with the light of determination he had seen so clearly in her eyes as she gave him that set-down.

  ‘I am aware our conversation was interrupted earlier, Bea,’ he remarked as he closed the library door firmly behind them. ‘But nevertheless, I cannot have left you in any doubt as to my disapproval of this scheme.’

  Bea faced him as she stood in the middle of the room. ‘Even if it were to save the life of a small child?’

  Griffin’s hands were clenched together behind his back. ‘I do not believe it sensible to save one life by putting the life of another at risk, no.’

  She eyed him reprovingly. ‘I am sure, during your own work for the Crown all these years, that you must have done so many times in the past?’

  ‘I...’ Griffin hesitated in order to draw in a deeply controlling breath.

  He knew Bea too well now, realised that the remark he had intended to make—that he was a man, and so the situation was different—would only result in Bea becoming even more intransigent.

  ‘I may well have done,’ he conceded. ‘But the risk to you in this situation is too great. Bea, you might conceivably have died of the cruel injuries deliberately inflicted upon you the last time you were held prisoner,’ he added gruffly.

  And instantly regretted it, as he saw the colour immediately leave her cheeks.

  He stepped forward quickly to grasp her shoulders as she would have swayed. ‘I did not mean to upset you by reminding you of such things,’ he bit out. ‘Can you not understand, Bea—’ he attempted to temper his tone ‘—that I am concerned for your safety?’

  Tears swam in her eyes. ‘It would indeed be a pity to undo all the good work you have done this past week by tending my cuts and bruises and feeding and clothing me.’

  Griffin drew back as if Bea had struck him. Indeed, it felt as if she had just done so. ‘That was an unforgivable thing for you to say, Bea.’

  It was, Bea knew that it was. It was just that she’d felt so disconnected from Griffin since Christian Seaton’s and Lord Maystone’s arrival. As if the closeness the two of them had shared this past week had been completely rent asunder by the arrival of his other visitors.

  She missed Griffin.

  As she missed their previous closeness. Their conversations. Their bantering and occasional laughter. Their lovemaking.

  But that was still no reason for her to have been so mean to Griffin just now.

  She bowed he
r head in shame. ‘I apologise, Griffin.’ She looked up at him, tears blurring her vision. ‘This is just such an awful situation for everyone, and I cannot bear the thought of that little boy being all alone, and suffering as I did. I want to do something to help him, Griffin.’

  Griffin was well aware that she felt as impotent as he did over this situation. But, still, he could not bear the thought of her once again being placed in danger, and this time by a decision consciously made.

  He knew he looked defeat in the face because of the depth of her determination. ‘I do not suppose I can stop you if you have made your mind up to help.’

  ‘Oh, thank you, Griffin!’ She beamed up at him as she reached out to clasp both of his hands in her own. ‘I will feel so much better about doing this if I have your blessing.’

  Griffin was not sure she did have his blessing, but he did welcome the breaking of the tension that had existed between the two of them for most of today. As he welcomed her voluntarily touching him again.

  He looked down at her gravely as his fingers tightened about hers. ‘You will be careful, Bea? And you will accept Seaton’s instructions in regard to your safety?’ He almost choked over the directive, still far from happy that Christian would be the one to accompany Bea to Latham Manor, but knowing that he now had no choice, in the face of Bea’s stubbornness, but to accept it with good grace.

  Most especially so when he now held Bea’s hands in his own and knew himself bathed in the warmth of her smile.

  ‘I will do as you ask.’ Bea moved instinctively up on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the cheek, her own cheeks immediately becoming flushed and warm as she looked up at him shyly. ‘I cannot thank you enough for being so very kind to me this past week, Griffin.’

  A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw. ‘You are a woman whom it is easy to be kind to.’

  The two of them remained looking at each other for several long moments, before Bea broke the connection as she sternly reminded herself of the conversation she had overheard last night between Griffin and his friend. She must not make the mistake again of thinking that his kindness towards her, his concern for her welfare, was anything deeper than that of a man who cared deeply for others—hence his work for the Crown these past years—even if he did not care to show it in the often stern exterior he presented to the world at large.