the shreds into the trash. He’d already committed the report to memory.
Some men collected stamps. He collected information about people who interested him, like Araminta. Or people who threatened him, like Kane.
But leisure time was over. Now he’d take action. Perhaps he’d even take an active role with Kane. Cultivate the man. Keep an eye on his cook.
He pushed the button that summoned Williams, his second in command of the New York office.
Williams knocked and entered at once.
Griffin didn’t trust the ambitious young man, but then he trusted very few people. “I’m not leaving for London as soon as I expected. I’m going to personally address some of the local issues.”
Williams, slender and fashionably dressed, raised a respectful eyebrow. He gazed over the top of his gold-rimmed pince-nez. “Might I ask, sir, which projects you mean?”
The man appeared understandably rattled. Griffin did not normally take over any work he’d already asked others to handle.
“No, no need to look so worried, Williams. I’m not about to march in and bungle any of the negotiations with the mining company. I mean some, ah, less formal business.”
Williams smoothed a hand over his slicked, carefully parted dark hair and cleared his throat. “Before you arrived in w York, I had already spoken to several of our friends at Tammany informally about Mr. Kane and—”
“Good. The next time you meet with any of them, I will attend.”
Williams had been with him long enough to know when to stop pushing. “Yes, sir.” He bowed and left.
Griffin knew Williams wore a puzzled look for a good reason. The New York branch of the Calverson Company and its associates had been threatened before, usually by larger and more menacing problems than one nasty little criminal who wanted to muck about in its concerns. Griffin had let his employees handle these problems.
He was scheduled to board ship to London in a fortnight, but he wouldn’t use those tickets. And why was that?
Araminta. Galvin, damn his shrewd eyes, had spotted the truth.
Griffin wrote a note to be wired to various offices—he’d hear some grumbling that he’d canceled his plans for the next month. But really, his actions weren’t unreasonable.
Timona’s friend was very important to her. It only followed that he would go to some lengths to protect the woman.
He looked forward to future meetings with Araminta. He hoped to channel her fiery spirit into another, more satisfying sort of encounter. Just the thought could stir him.
Yet really, he would have taken these same steps for anyone Timona valued. His silent argument was so effective he almost convinced himself.
CHAPTER 6
Olivia perched on a stool, watching, as Araminta finished placing the decorative sugared violets on a cake. Araminta, lost in thought, stared at the elaborate creation without really seeing it.
She knew from his sister that Griffin rarely expressed amusement. Why was the man so bleak? Despite her indignation at his unreasonable approach to life, she felt inordinately proud that she could provoke his laughter. She realized she wished she could attempt to make him laugh again and see his striking face express something other than stony indifference.
“Did you hear my question?” Olivia’s voice pulled her from the reverie.
Araminta bit her lip.
Olivia leaned forward. “It wasn’t important. Why are you lost in thought?”
“I was thinking about my friend. The one I visited.”
“Oh, so he’s a friend now, not just an acquaintance.” The girl grinned. “Have you been to see him?”
“Yes.”
“And he’s forgiven you?”
Araminta shrugged.
She was pleased to hear Olivia sound like any happy, chattering young miss as she went on, “Surely he has. I knew he would never hold a grudge against you! You are too wonderful. Oh, what fun! You have a beau! But you haven’t told me. Who is your gentleman?”
“Calverson. Griffin Calverson.”
Olivia’s exquisite
Some men collected stamps. He collected information about people who interested him, like Araminta. Or people who threatened him, like Kane.
But leisure time was over. Now he’d take action. Perhaps he’d even take an active role with Kane. Cultivate the man. Keep an eye on his cook.
He pushed the button that summoned Williams, his second in command of the New York office.
Williams knocked and entered at once.
Griffin didn’t trust the ambitious young man, but then he trusted very few people. “I’m not leaving for London as soon as I expected. I’m going to personally address some of the local issues.”
Williams, slender and fashionably dressed, raised a respectful eyebrow. He gazed over the top of his gold-rimmed pince-nez. “Might I ask, sir, which projects you mean?”
The man appeared understandably rattled. Griffin did not normally take over any work he’d already asked others to handle.
“No, no need to look so worried, Williams. I’m not about to march in and bungle any of the negotiations with the mining company. I mean some, ah, less formal business.”
Williams smoothed a hand over his slicked, carefully parted dark hair and cleared his throat. “Before you arrived in w York, I had already spoken to several of our friends at Tammany informally about Mr. Kane and—”
“Good. The next time you meet with any of them, I will attend.”
Williams had been with him long enough to know when to stop pushing. “Yes, sir.” He bowed and left.
Griffin knew Williams wore a puzzled look for a good reason. The New York branch of the Calverson Company and its associates had been threatened before, usually by larger and more menacing problems than one nasty little criminal who wanted to muck about in its concerns. Griffin had let his employees handle these problems.
He was scheduled to board ship to London in a fortnight, but he wouldn’t use those tickets. And why was that?
Araminta. Galvin, damn his shrewd eyes, had spotted the truth.
Griffin wrote a note to be wired to various offices—he’d hear some grumbling that he’d canceled his plans for the next month. But really, his actions weren’t unreasonable.
Timona’s friend was very important to her. It only followed that he would go to some lengths to protect the woman.
He looked forward to future meetings with Araminta. He hoped to channel her fiery spirit into another, more satisfying sort of encounter. Just the thought could stir him.
Yet really, he would have taken these same steps for anyone Timona valued. His silent argument was so effective he almost convinced himself.
CHAPTER 6
Olivia perched on a stool, watching, as Araminta finished placing the decorative sugared violets on a cake. Araminta, lost in thought, stared at the elaborate creation without really seeing it.
She knew from his sister that Griffin rarely expressed amusement. Why was the man so bleak? Despite her indignation at his unreasonable approach to life, she felt inordinately proud that she could provoke his laughter. She realized she wished she could attempt to make him laugh again and see his striking face express something other than stony indifference.
“Did you hear my question?” Olivia’s voice pulled her from the reverie.
Araminta bit her lip.
Olivia leaned forward. “It wasn’t important. Why are you lost in thought?”
“I was thinking about my friend. The one I visited.”
“Oh, so he’s a friend now, not just an acquaintance.” The girl grinned. “Have you been to see him?”
“Yes.”
“And he’s forgiven you?”
Araminta shrugged.
She was pleased to hear Olivia sound like any happy, chattering young miss as she went on, “Surely he has. I knew he would never hold a grudge against you! You are too wonderful. Oh, what fun! You have a beau! But you haven’t told me. Who is your gentleman?”
“Calverson. Griffin Calverson.”
Olivia’s exquisite
Similar Books
