Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom(13)

Dominic responded with a ghost of a smile. “You couldn’t possibly, so don’t even bother. And, no. I don’t want you to send anyone after the boy. But if he does contact you again, send for me immediately. Other than that, you are to do nothing.”

Griffin stared at him in disbelief. “Do nothing? What the hell is going on here, Dominic? What aren’t you telling me?”

The older man gazed imperiously down his long, arrogant nose. “I cannot come to any conclusions until I launch an investigation. I need to find out more about both the note and the ring.”

Griffin resisted the impulse to rub the knot forming at the back of his neck. “And how do you propose to do that?”

Dominic held the note up to the light, his eyes narrowing in speculation. “The paper is good quality—although I don’t recognize the watermark—which suggests that our mystery lady is a woman of means.”


“The baby’s blankets and clothing are well made and of the best materials,” Madeline piped in. “And he’s obviously well-cared for and healthy.”

Dominic absently brought the note to his nostrils, as if searching for an elusive scent. “So it would seem. Someone loved this child, which begs the question as to why he would be given up, and in so odd a way.”

“Obviously, because he’s in danger,” Griffin replied sarcastically, waving his hands in the air. “It’s all nonsense, if you ask me. Why the hell would a baby be in such mortal danger that he needed to be hidden in a brothel? With me, of all people?”

Dominic thought for several long seconds. “Perhaps because a brothel is the last place one would think to look for a well-born child. And you have a reputation for being a dangerous man to cross. A well-earned reputation, I might add,” he finished, gently sardonic.

“I’m assuming that’s a compliment,” Griffin responded.

“What interests me,” Dominic mused, ignoring the jab, “is why this woman would pick you, specifically. She obviously knows you.”

“A lot of women know me,” Griffin snapped. “The real question is why the hell would she leave a mewling infant on my doorstep?”

“Because she thinks you understand what it means to be abandoned?”

Griffin jolted slightly in his chair, then stilled as the words tapped into the cold rage that ran deeply and swiftly within him. That emotion was a subtle, thrumming current underscoring every part of his life. He’d struggled for years to harness the power of it, mostly succeeding. But those close to him knew that certain subjects were forever barred from discussion. Those who made the mistake of raising them never did so more than once.

Except for Dominic, naturally. He knew too much, and he had no compunctions about using that knowledge to his advantage.

“I’d advise you to be careful, my friend,” Griffin said in a soft voice.

Dominic gave a casual shrug. “I’ve made my point.”

“And I suggest you not make it again.”

The other man bowed his head in gracious retreat.

“To return to the problem at hand,” Griffin said in a blighting tone, “I would be profoundly grateful if you could take this blasted infant off my hands. Before something happens to him.”

“I think not.” Now Dominic sounded almost amused. “Little Stephen must certainly remain here.”

Griffin felt his mouth drop open. “Surely, you’re joking.”

“I am not.” Dominic rose smoothly to his feet. “I’m inclined to agree with your veiled woman.” He paused as a curious shadow crossed his face. He gave a slight shake of his head as if to dispel it. “Your establishment is a very safe place for a child who is clearly in some sort of peril. Stephen can remain hidden here while I conduct an investigation. With any luck, I’ll discover his parentage within a few weeks.”