Griffin’s eyes narrowed at his friend’s obvious mockery. ‘You will send word immediately with Miss Baines if I am needed.’ He nodded in the direction of the young woman sitting beside Bea. She was a niece to his housekeeper, Mrs Harcourt, who had agreed to accompany Bea to Latham Manor as her maid. ‘I shall be visiting Sir Walter this morning, in any case.’ He was also well aware that he might possibly arrive too late, if there was an immediate reaction to Bea’s arrival. But this proposed visit to take another look at Sir Walter’s hunter was the best that Griffin could come up with in the circumstances.
At least this way he might have opportunity to be formally introduced to Bea as Sir Walter’s niece.
The irony of his eagerness now to be introduced to Sir Walter’s niece, when he had not cared to meet the daughters and nieces of any of his other neighbours, was not lost on Griffin.
Nor was the possibility of Lady Francesca Latham being involved in the plot to secure Bonaparte’s freedom.
Again Griffin questioned as to whether or not he was being influenced in this suspicion by his personal dislike of the woman. Lady Francesca had been far too much of a negative influence on his late wife, he suspected, in regard to their marriage, and him. And she’d enjoyed being so, if the mocking smiles Lady Francesca had so often given Griffin were an indication.
‘Is that altogether wise, Griffin?’ Christian frowned at Griffin’s proposed visit to Latham Manor.
Wise, or otherwise, it was Griffin’s intention to visit shortly after Christian and Bea had arrived. ‘I shall be calling upon Sir Walter this morning.’ He nodded.
‘As you wish.’
‘It is exactly as I wish.’ Griffin gave another terse nod before stepping back and closing the carriage door.
His last sight of Bea as she left Stonehurst Park—and him—was as she turned her head away from the window in order to answer something said to her by Christian.
‘Stay calm, Griffin,’ Aubrey Maystone advised softly half an hour later as he and Griffin travelled down the driveway of Latham Manor in the ducal coach.
Griffin stilled immediately as he became aware of the fact that he was sitting on the edge of his seat, as well as tapping his hat impatiently against his thigh. An impatience exacerbated by the fact that he had been forced to travel by coach at all, out of concern for Maystone’s health, when he would have much preferred the faster travel of horseback.
Truth was, he would have preferred to call upon the Lathams by himself, and he had told Maystone as much when the older gentleman had announced his intention of rising from his bed and accompanying him.
Maystone was not to be gainsaid, however, and in the end Griffin had no choice but to capitulate when he could see how pale and agitated the older man was in his need for news of his young grandson.
As agitated, in fact, as Griffin was in regard to news of Bea’s reception on her arrival at Latham Manor.
He shot Maystone an impatient glance. ‘I warn you now, I cannot answer for my actions if anyone has harmed so much as one hair upon Bea’s head!’ His teeth were clenched, a nerve pulsing in the tightness of his jaw.
The older man’s expression softened. ‘Perfectly understandable, when you are in love with her.’
‘I— What?’ Griffin looked at the other man incredulously. ‘Of course I am not in love with Bea,’ he denied harshly. ‘I am concerned for her safety, that is all.’
‘Of course you are.’
‘I have had to suffer enough of Christian’s sarcasm these past two days, and can quite well do without your adding to it!’ Griffin scowled darkly.
The older man gave an acknowledging nod. ‘It was not intended as sarcasm. Very well, I will say no more on the matter,’ he acquiesced as Griffin continued to glare coldly across the carriage at him, before politely turning away to look out of the window at the trees lining the driveway.
Leaving Griffin alone with his thoughts.
Was he in love with Bea?
Of course he was not! The mere idea of it was preposterous, ridiculous.
Preposterous and ridiculous or not, was it possible that the feelings of jealousy, of possessiveness, which Griffin so often felt where Bea was concerned, might indeed be attributed to a growing affection for her?
No!
He did not love Bea or any other woman. Nor would he ever do so.
And Bea?
Griffin had no choice, once this present situation had resolved itself, other than to allow Bea to return to Michael. The man she obviously loved.
After which she would likely not give Griffin so much as a single thought. Unless it was out of gratitude for having saved her from her abductors. And for having returned her safely to the man she would no doubt give the rest of her life, and her love, to.