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

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Maystone sent you?’ Griffin queried abruptly.

  Christian finally released Bea’s hand as he turned to Griffin.

  ‘Maystone is also on his way here. By carriage. I was able to travel faster on horseback.’

  Griffin had not expected his letter of query to Maystone to have elicited quite such a reaction as this. It did not bode well regarding the outcome of that query.

  ‘I am to assist in protecting your...goddaughter until Maystone arrives and explains all,’ Christian added grimly.

  Bea was uncomfortable at learning that the Duke of Sutherland seemed aware of the details of her current situation. Most especially so because she had never heard of the gentleman until his arrival a few minutes ago. ‘Griffin?’ she asked uncertainly.

  Griffin moved to stand at her side. ‘Christian is a trusted friend, Bea,’ he assured her gruffly.

  That might well be true. But was it not humiliating enough that Griffin knew of her circumstances, without the charmingly handsome Duke of Sutherland being aware of them too?

  She turned to look at the man now. ‘Do you know my true identity, sir?’

  ‘I do,’ he confirmed abruptly.

  ‘And?’ she prompted as he added nothing to that statement.

  He winced. ‘I have been instructed not to discuss the matter until Lord Maystone arrives.’

  Bea stared at him incredulously. ‘That is utterly ridiculous. Surely I have a right to know who I am? Why those things were done to me?’ Two bright spots of angry colour burned in her cheeks as she glared at Christian Seaton.

  ‘You have every right, yes.’ He sighed. ‘Unfortunately, I am not presently at liberty to discuss it.’

  ‘Griffin?’ Bea turned her angry gaze on him.

  Griffin was as much at a loss as Bea. Except to know that Christian’s silence on the subject, his added protection, implied Bea’s situation was even graver than he had anticipated it might be. ‘I believe that, for the moment, Bea, we will have to accept Sutherland’s reticence on the subject.’ His gaze remained on Christian as he answered Bea, knowing by the other man’s expression that he was not remaining silent out of playfulness but necessity.

  ‘By “we” I am to presume you mean me.’ She glared. ‘For no doubt the two of you will discuss the matter at your earliest convenience!’

  Griffin winced. ‘Perhaps it is time you returned to bed, Bea?’

  ‘I shall do no such thing!’ she said angrily. ‘I am not a child to be ordered to my room. This man—this Duke—knows exactly who I am, and yet says he is not at liberty to reveal it. And you agree with him!’ She glared at Griffin incredulously.

  As Bea had no knowledge of the work he and Christian had been involved in for the Crown for so many years, she could not possibly understand the need there often was for secrecy, even from each other. ‘Christian must have his reasons.’

  ‘None that are acceptable to me, I assure you!’ She was breathing hard in her agitation, and with each breath Griffin was able to make out the hard, aroused pebbles of her nipples against her robe.

  Which meant that Christian must be able to see that delectable display too.

  Griffin’s jaw tightened. ‘I really think it best if you return to your bedchamber now, Bea.’

  ‘And I have said that I have no wish to return to my bedchamber!’

  ‘The two of us will talk again in the morning,’ Griffin concluded firmly.

  Bea glared first at Griffin and then at Sutherland, and back to Griffin. ‘You are both mad if you believe I will calmly accept this silence until this Lord Maystone arrives!’ She gathered up the bottom of her robe with an angry swish. ‘I will give you both until morning to discuss the matter, and then I shall demand to know the answers!’ She turned on her heel and marched angrily from the room.

  ‘What a fascinating young woman,’ Christian breathed as he gazed after her admiringly.

  ‘You will keep your lethal charms to yourself where Bea is concerned.’ Griffin was in no mood at present—or any other time, he suspected—to listen to or behold another man’s admiration for Bea.

  Christian gave him a long and considering stare. ‘As you wish,’ he finally drawled softly. ‘In the meantime, perhaps you might care to explain to me just exactly what it was you were doing in the library with your “goddaughter” at this time of the night?’

  Griffin felt his face go pale.

  * * *

  Hateful.

  Hateful and impossible, Bea decided as she angrily paced the length and breadth of her bedchamber.

  Both of them!

  How could Griffin, especially after the intimacies they had so recently shared, possibly side with the hateful Duke of Sutherland?

  Why was her identity such a secret?

  Who was she, and what had she done, that Christian Seaton refused to discuss it in front of her?

  Bea sank down on the side of her bed, weariness overtaking her as the events of the evening finally took their toll on her.

  Just a short time ago she had been so happy, had felt so utterly desired, so satiated in that desire, yet now it was as if that closeness between herself and Griffin had never taken place. As if there was a distance between them so wide it might never be bridged.

  Her cheeks heated as she thought of the intimacies they had shared. The pleasure Griffin had given her with both his hands and mouth. The unmistakeable pleasure she had given him in return. The taste of him on her lips.

  Oh, dear Lord, would Seaton know that the two of them had been making love shortly before his arrival?

  Griffin’s appearance had certainly been dishevelled enough; he had not bothered to resume wearing his neckcloth or waistcoat and jacket before striding out into the hallway, and his hair was in disarray from her caressing fingers. Just as his lips had looked as puffy and swollen as her own now felt.

  Would Christian Seaton, wickedly handsome, and so obviously a sophisticated gentleman of the world, have been able to tell, just from looking at the two of them, that she and Griffin had been making love together when he arrived?

  Oh, dear Lord, could this night become any more humiliating?

  Bea gave a muffled sob as she buried her face in the pillow, once again afraid. Of the knowledge of her past. Of what her future might hold.

  Of having to leave Griffin.

  * * *

  ‘I would not care to discuss it, no,’ Griffin answered the other man tightly as he moved to lift the decanter on his desk, pouring brandy into two of the crystal glasses before handing one to his friend. ‘Who is she, Christian? And why all the secrecy?’

  Christian took a grateful swallow of the amber liquid before answering him. ‘We believe her name to be Lady Beatrix Stanton. She is nineteen years of age, and the unmarried daughter of the Earl and Countess of Barnstable. You will recall that both the Earl and his countess perished in a carriage accident last year? As for the rest...’ He grimaced. ‘The demand for secrecy is all Maystone’s doing, I am afraid.’

  Bea’s name was Beatrix Stanton. She was the unmarried Lady Beatrix Stanton, Griffin corrected grimly, relieved at the former and satisfied that his previous conviction that Bea was a lady was a true one.

  He had known her father, damn it; the two of them had belonged to the same club in London. Unfortunately Griffin had been out of the country when Barnstable and his countess had died so he had been unable to attend the funeral.

  But he had known Bea’s father!

  Griffin threw some of the brandy to the back of his own throat, face grim as his thoughts raced.

  Bea’s dream of having attended her parents’ funeral had been a true one.

  So, then, must be the dream of her abduction, imprisonment, and the beatings.

  Not that Griffin had ever had any doubts regarding the
latter even if he did not know the reason for it.

  And what of the man, Michael? He then must also be real.

  Exactly who was he, and what did he mean to Bea?

  He looked sharply across at Sutherland as the other man now slouched down in one of the chairs before the fire, no doubt tired from the strains of his hurried journey. ‘If her parents are both dead, then who is now her guardian?’

  The other man looked up at him beneath hooded lids. ‘Apart from having you as her godfather, you mean?’

  ‘Christian—’

  ‘I am sorry, Griff, but I believe you are now crossing into the area where Maystone has demanded secrecy.’ Sutherland grimaced.

  Griffin’s eyes widened. ‘You are refusing to tell me who Bea’s guardian is?’

  The other man’s mouth tightened. ‘I am ordered not to tell you, Griff. There is a difference. This does not just involve the young lady you have claimed as your goddaughter,’ he bit out harshly as Griffin looked set to explode into anger. ‘The lives of other innocents are also at stake.’

  Griffin stilled, eyes narrowed. ‘What others?’ he demanded. ‘I always could pummel you into the ground, Christian,’ he reminded grimly as the other man sipped his brandy rather than answer his question.

  Sutherland sighed heavily as he relaxed back in the chair. ‘Then you will just have to pummel away, I am afraid, Griffin, because I am not—’

  ‘You are not at liberty to tell me,’ Griffin finished grimly. ‘Maystone believes Bea’s life is still in danger?’ he added sharply.

  ‘It is the reason I have travelled here so quickly,’ Christian confirmed.

  Part of Griffin bristled at Maystone having doubted that he alone could protect Bea. Another part of him was grateful to have Christian’s assistance.

  If Bea truly was still in danger, then he welcomed any assistance in ensuring her safety.

  He sighed heavily. ‘How long before Maystone arrives, do you estimate?’

  ‘Another day at best, possibly two, or even three at worst.’

  Griffin inwardly chafed at the delay. ‘And in the meantime?’

  ‘In the meantime we do not let your young ward out of our sight. And, Griffin?’

  ‘Yes?’ He answered warily; he might welcome Christian’s help in keeping Bea safe, but he was not altogether happy with the thought of the other man keeping such a close watch over Bea.

  ‘Have a care where she is concerned, will you?’ Christian suggested gently.

  His shoulders tensed. ‘I would not harm a hair upon her head!’

  ‘I was thinking more of your own welfare than of hers.’

  Griffin’s eyes narrowed. ‘I am only concerned for Bea, for the harsh treatment she has suffered, and the reason behind it. Nothing more.’

  ‘I know you, Griffin.’ Christian sighed. ‘On the outside you are harsh and gruff, keeping the world and others at a distance, but on the inside—’

  ‘On the inside I am just as harsh and gruff,’ Griff assured him with some of that harshness. ‘And whatever you may think you witnessed here this evening, let me assure you that you are mistaken if you believe that either my own or Bea’s emotions were seriously engaged. It was...a mistake, an impulse, of the moment. She was upset, I attempted to comfort her, and the situation spiralled out of control. It will not happen again.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘No!’ Even as he had made the explanation, and now the denial, Griffin knew that he was not being altogether truthful. With himself or Christian.

  He had been attempting to comfort Bea earlier, but she had made it clear that she needed something else from him, something more.

  Something he had been only too willing to give her.

  And would willingly give time and time again if asked.

  * * *

  Bea, listening outside the study door, having cried her tears and decided to return down the stairs with the intention of demanding that Seaton give her the answers to her many questions, instead now felt as if her heart were breaking hearing Griffin describe their lovemaking as a mistake that he would not allow to happen again...

  Chapter Ten

  ‘You must try to eat something more than toast, Bea,’ Griffin encouraged as they sat at the breakfast table the following morning, where she only nibbled at a dry piece of toast and took the occasional sip of her tea.

  Griffin had been unsure of what Bea’s mood would be today, after their...closeness the previous evening, and followed by Christian’s unexpected arrival, and Bea’s own heated departure from the room.

  After her threats he had certainly not expected her uncharacteristic silence this morning, other than when she replied with stilted politeness to whatever remark he or Christian addressed to her directly.

  ‘Thank you, but I am not hungry,’ she answered him in just that manner now.

  ‘Did you have more nightmares last night?’ Griffin asked with concern, having noted the pallor of Bea’s face the minute she’d entered the breakfast room, where he and Christian were already seated and enjoying breakfast. Her pallor did not in any way, though, detract from her fresh beauty, dressed as she was today in a pretty yellow gown that complemented her creamy complexion and gave an ebony richness to her hair.

  Bea looked coolly across the table at him. ‘How am I to tell, when my life has become nothing but a continuous nightmare from which I would rather awaken?’

  Griffin scowled as he saw the corners of Christian’s lips twitch with amusement as the other man obviously heard the sharp edge to Bea’s reply.

  A reply that implied she considered their lovemaking last night to be a part of that nightmare existence.

  It had been Griffin’s intention to apologise to her this morning at the earliest opportunity for the serious lapse in his behaviour and judgement but he now found himself bristling with irritation instead.

  At the same time as he knew it was illogical of him to feel regret for his own actions, but feel offended when Bea expressed she felt the same way.

  If only Christian were not here, perhaps he might have tried to explain to Bea why he regretted it.

  ‘If you will both excuse me?’ As if aware of Griffin’s thoughts, Sutherland placed his napkin on the table before rising to his feet, an expression of studied politeness on his face as he bowed to them both. ‘It is such a pleasant morning, I believe I will take a stroll about the grounds.’

  ‘I believe I asked last night to be given answers this morning?’ Bea reminded tightly.

  ‘Not now, Bea.’ Griffin glanced pointedly at Pelham as he stood beside the breakfast salvers.

  ‘Then when?’ she demanded, eyes glittering. ‘Very well,’ she bit out angrily when neither man answered her. ‘As you are obviously no more inclined to answer my questions this morning than you were last night, I believe I will join His Grace for a walk in the grounds.’ Bea also rose to her feet, her napkin falling to the floor in her haste. ‘If I would not be intruding?’ she added to Sutherland before bending to retrieve the napkin.

  Griffin and Christian exchanged a glance over the top of Bea’s bent head as Griffin rose politely to his feet. Christian’s look was questioning, while his own was of scowling displeasure at the thought of Bea alone in the garden with the other man.

  An emotion Griffin knew he did not have the right to feel. He was not truly Bea’s guardian, so could not object. He would not, could not, claim to be Bea’s lover, so again he had no right to object to her enjoying the company of another man.

  ‘I will accompany you, Bea, if you wish to go outside,’ he offered instead.

  ‘No, thank you.’ Bea did not as much as glance at him. ‘Your Grace?’ She looked at Sutherland.

  ‘I have no objection if Griffin does not?’ Christian still eyed him questioningly.

 
Bea bristled resentfully at the mere suggestion that it was any of Griffin’s business what she chose to do after the conversation she had overheard between the two men last night. Griffin had dismissed not only her, but also their lovemaking, as a mistake that meant nothing to him.

  ‘I believe I shall stroll in the garden, in any case,’ she stated determinedly. ‘If we should happen to meet, Your Grace—’ she glanced coolly at Seaton ‘—then perhaps we might stroll along together.’

  ‘Bea—’

  ‘If you will excuse me, I believe I will go to my room and collect my bonnet.’ Again Bea ignored Griffin as she turned on her heel and marched determinedly from the room, her head held high.

  ‘As I remarked last night,’ Sutherland mused softly as he watched her leave, Pelham following, at Griffin’s discreet nod for the butler to do so, ‘Bea is a fascinating young woman.’

  ‘And as I replied, you are to stay away from her.’ Griffin glared.

  ‘Can I help it if she prefers my company to yours today?’ the other man drawled dryly.

  ‘This is not a laughing matter, Christian.’

  ‘I could not agree more.’ Sutherland sobered grimly. ‘Will you accompany Bea on her walk, or shall I? In any case, she should not be left to stroll outside in the grounds alone and unprotected,’ he added firmly.

  Griffin eyed him sharply. ‘The threat is still near, then?’

  ‘Very near.’

  He breathed his frustration with the situation. ‘If you would only confide—’

  ‘I cannot, Griff!’ The refusal obviously caused Christian some discomfort. ‘There are other lives at risk, and for the moment all I can do is offer to assist you in keeping Bea safe.’

  Griffin could see by the strain about Sutherland’s eyes and mouth that his regret was genuine over his enforced silence. ‘Can you at least reassure me that Bea will be safe as long as one of us is with her?’

  ‘I— Not completely,’ the other man confessed. ‘The stakes are high, Griff, and Bea may have information that is the key.’

  ‘As I explained to Maystone in my note, she has no memory of who she is, or the events before her abduction.’