Griffin Stone: Duke of Decadence (Dangerous Dukes 5)

‘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.’