Page 29 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

Hearing the sadness in his brother’s voice caused his stance to soften a little. “Don’t give up yet,” Corbyn encouraged. “These things can take time.”

“It is frustrating, because Beatrice hasn’t had the same problem.”

Corbyn lifted his brow. “I thought you ended things with her once you married Catherine.”

“I did, but I went back to her since I couldn’t get Catherine pregnant,” Simon revealed.

“Does Catherine know?”

Simon shrugged. “I don’t rightly know, but it is her fault that she hasn’t been able to fulfill her duty.”

“You are despicable,” Corbyn remarked.

“I will be a duke one day,” Simon said with a frown. “I refuse to be the only duke without a mistress.”

“I thought you cared for Catherine.”

“I do.”

“You have a funny way of showing that, Brother.”

Simon took a sip of his drink. “I did not come here to fight with you about Catherine.”

“No?”

“I have come to tell you to fulfill your duty and return to our townhouse.”

“My duty?” Corbyn repeated. “What makes you think I am not already doing that?”

“Your duty is to your family.”

“No, my duty is to King and country.”

Leaning forward, Simon placed his glass onto the table that sat between the two settees. “And working a meaningless job at the Home Office is sufficient for you?”

“How do you know what I do at the Home Office?”

“Father made some inquiries to the Home Secretary, and he informed him of your position within the agency,” Simon shared.

“Ah, I see,” Corbyn said. “I must admit that I am not surprised that Father is spying on me.”

Simon smirked. “You can’t possibly think that you can have any secrets around us, do you?”

“I can’t?” he asked, amused.

“Father is a duke and a very important man,” Simon stated. “Besides, everything you do is transparent.”

“I hadn’t realized that.”

Simon looked smug. “That is the problem,” he said. “You don’t think things through, and you are letting your foolish pride rule your life.”

Corbyn let out a sigh, wishing this conversation could be over. “Will you please inform Mother that I will not be returning home?” He rose. “If you will excuse me—”

“Father is sick,” Simon blurted out.

Corbyn paused. “Pardon?”

“He has wasting disease, and it is only a matter of time before he succumbs to his illness,” Simon explained.

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