Page 116 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

“Why?”

“Even if I wanted to, which I don’t,” Corbyn began, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

“Perhaps you should start at the beginning.”

“Now I know that you are mad.”

“No, I am trying to help you recognize that it isn’t as impossible as you are leading yourself to believe.”

Corbyn rose from his chair and walked over to his window. He stared out over the gardens, then said, “I am not worthy of your sister. I have done too many terrible things to even consider myself worthy of a happy life.”

“As have I,” Baldwin responded, “but I was still blessed with Madalene.”

“You were lucky.”

“I agree, but I still had to fight for her.”

“It matters not, because I told Jane that there could be no future between us.”

“Is that why Jane ran out of the drawing room in tears last night?”

“It was,” he confirmed.

Baldwin pushed off from the chair and sighed. “It isn’t too late to change your mind.”

“It would be better if Jane was far away from me.”

Baldwin nodded. “True, but falling in love can be a tricky thing.”

“Love?” Corbyn repeated. “I never said I was in love with Jane.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Before Corbyn could respond, Rudd stepped into the room and met his gaze. “A Mr. Stewart is here to call upon you, milord,” he announced.

“Please send him in.”

Baldwin gave him a questioning look. “Stewart will be accompanying us today?”

“I gave him permission to do so.”

“That is rather interesting, since you loathe Bow Street Runners so much,” Baldwin teased.

“I do, but Stewart isn’t as terrible as I was once led to believe.”

Stewart’s amused voice came from the doorway. “What a wonderful endorsement.”

Corbyn gestured towards Stewart and provided the introductions. “Lord Hawthorne, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Guy Stewart.”

Stewart tipped his head. “It is an honor to meet you, my lord.”

Baldwin nodded in response.

As Corbyn came around his desk, he said, “I hope you have enough pistols on your persons, because we have no idea what threat we are facing.”

“That sounds encouraging,” Stewart muttered.

“Don’t fret,” Corbyn said. “I put the building under surveillance, and I just received word that no one has been seen coming or going from the structure.”

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