Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Griffin couldn’t help but perspire as he left the Cromwell House, he was so perplexed at the turn his mischief had taken. Somehow, he had gained a partner in his crime of investigation. But he wouldn’t complain, after all his newfound partner was rather pretty. Much prettier, and more intelligent, than Nancy.

Even though he found Marina to be a treat to the eye, he couldn’t allow any strange attachments between the two of them. He was destined to prove the new Earl of Lyford was his father’s killer, and nothing could stop him in his tracks.

“Ah, the Duke of Darrington! Long time, no see, Your Grace,” a dear friend of Griffin, Baron Robert Fletcher exclaimed as he approached. “Finally deciding to make another appearance at the gentlemen’s club?”

“My Lord, you tend to spend far too much time in here than necessary. I’d have to arrange the delivery of a mattress for you to lay your head upon in here,” Griffin laughed, gently touching his friend’s upper arm.

“I might just happen to be here every night you come stumbling in, which isn’t a common appearance. I’d like to have this scene in painting so I could frame it,” Robert laughed, gesturing for Griffin to follow him.

“I would ensure a brandy be brought, Your Grace,” Robert said as they came to a seat at a table, small enough to prohibit anyone else from joining the conversation. Griffin was in no mood for any small talk with older gentlemen tonight.

A couple of men formally greeted Griffin as they passed by. It reminded Griffin of the status he still carried, despite being in a bit of a messy situation.

“Still doing well with Nancy?” Robert snickered. Robert happened to be the only person, apart from Marina, who knew of Griffin’s true intentions with the Bosley family. In fact, he was the one who assisted Griffin in the creation of his plan. A plan that was taking an unexpected turn.

Griffin scoffed at Robert’s question. “Things have changed quite drastically since we last spoke, my lord. Possibly due to you spending an awful amount of time at this club. However, I no longer find myself in a courtship with Miss Nancy Bosley,” Griffin replied.

“What happened, Your Grace? Have you messed up the arrangement in some manner?” Robert asked, eyes filled with concern.

“In a sense, I might say I messed up. Yet, a part of me believes it’s for the better,” Griffin continued, finding a touch of joy in prolonging the information to Robert. “I was in the Earl’s study one afternoon on an expedition to find any information that I could link or use against him, when I found Nancy’s older cousin stood at the door. I was caught red handed in my mischief.”

“Oh, goodness! Pray, continue!” Robert said, now more anxious than ever. Griffin motioned for Robert to relax in his seat, his anxiety being too prominent for passers-by.

“I took slightly drastic measures, holding her back to persuade her to keep a secret. Lucky for me, she doesn’t appear too fond of her uncle either, so she agreed to keep silent on the matter,” Griffin laughed, thinking of the day he had to grab Marina from telling on him, hand over her mouth as a rush of adrenaline pushed him to do. Luck was all he had to thank that Marina hadn’t told on him.

“Your Grace, what a story you are telling me! How sure are you that the lady wouldn’t open her mouth on the topic, however? This isn’t a schoolgirl type of secret she has to keep, but one that could possibly end lives,” Robert commented, his voice keeping to a slight whisper to prevent anyone overhearing the conversation.

“Allow me to finish the tale before reaching any conclusions, my lord,” Griffin laughed. He couldn’t help but find his friend’s absolute panic rather comedic. “As of late, she asked to be part of the investigation, offering a helping hand from within the home. The only way we could think to allow full cooperation was to enter a courtship, so we decided to do so until all evidence had been gathered and I hopefully could lock the Earl behind bars.”

Robert remained silent for a minute; his eyes fixed on Griffin. Griffin kept his composure well, a proud smile unwillingly crossing his face. Robert started to laugh.

“You Grace, you never fail to surprise me,” Robert chuckled. “But I must admit that you’re busy with extreme risks, I could only pray for them to work in your favor.”

“I have quite a load of anxiety in the matter, my lord. But I can’t help feeling a slight bit of excitement. With Marina’s help from inside the Cromwell House, I believe the investigation to be over in no time,” Griffin replied, looking over his shoulder to avoid any eavesdroppers.

“I’ve heard the lady is quite intelligent, Your Grace. So maybe it would help the investigation to have a bit of brains for a change,” Robert laughed, his glass of brandy in the air.

“I guess so,” Griffin replied with a smirk. “That’s why I couldn’t have asked you to be a partner in the investigation.”

The two men laughed before falling to a quiet whisper once again.

“Have you announced the news to the family yet? That you find yourself in a scandal, Your Grace?” Robert asked, leaning forward.

Before Griffin could answer, he spotted a man with distinct features he knew so well. Light brown, thinning hair he tried to hide with a hat, and ice blue eyes that created an intimidating ambience wherever he found himself. Josiah Bosley, the Earl of Lyford. The main suspect for the murder of his father.

“Don’t turn, but Josiah is but a few feet away from where we are sat,” Griffin said to Robert. Robert’s eyes grew wider in anxiety.

“Well, then answer the question. Have you informed the Earl of Lyford about your new courtship?” Robert asked.

“No, but I can only hope Marina hasn’t announced herself,” Griffin replied, peeping from underneath his brow to avoid Josiah. “I need time to contemplate how I should approach them. They aren’t the easiest people to converse with.”

“Your Grace, I would advise you to leave if you want to steal more time. The Earl could approach us any second,” Robert said as he stood. He positioned himself firmly in front of Griffin in a poor attempt to hide him, but Griffin had always been greatly taller than Robert.

Griffin put on his hat and briskly turned, starting his way toward the nearest door. He walked outside, turning to see Robert had followed. Griffin gave him a questioning look.

“Well, you can’t just leave without telling me what evidence you had found,” Robert asked, curiosity overcoming him.

“Well, the day Marina walked in on me, I was able to find another piece in the puzzle…”