Page 86 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

“I will be sure to be vigilant when I go out.”

Corbyn nodded his head in approval. “I believe we both know what Kerley is capable of.”

“That we do.”

Walking over to the door, Corbyn placed his hand on the handle and paused. “We were wrong to leave Kerley behind.”

“We both thought he was dead, and if we had gone back for him, we would have been killed ourselves.”

“I still have nightmares about that night.”

“As do I.”

“I keep replaying that night in my head over and over,” Corbyn revealed, “and I always ask myself what we could have done differently.”

Baldwin let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know, but we did the best we could at the time.”

“That isn’t good enough,” Corbyn replied. “I should have done better.”

“You can’t keep beating yourself up about that mission.”

Corbyn opened the door. “I made the call about leaving Kerley. I understand why he is seeking vengeance on me.”

“Promise me that you will be careful.”

“Aren’t I always?” Corbyn asked.

“No, you aren’t,” Baldwin countered. “That’s why I’m telling you to.”

Corbyn muttered his goodbye as he left the study. He had to get to work finding an elusive former agent who had managed to make him look like a fool up to this point, and he knew it would be no small feat.

Chapter Twelve

Dressed in herriding habit, Jane descended the stairs with a smile on her face. She still kept replaying the conversation between her and Lord Evan in the gardens yesterday. He hadn’t come out and admitted that he had feelings for her, but it did make her believe that he did hold her in some regard. And that was very promising.

The smell of food wafted out into the entry hall as she headed towards the dining room. She had just stepped into the room when she saw Baldwin sitting at the head of the table.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

“Good morning,” she replied as she approached the buffet. “Where is Madalene this morning?”

“She decided to sleep late,” Baldwin informed her.

After she placed a piece of toast and some eggs on her plate, Jane sat down to the right of her brother.

Baldwin perused the length of her. “You don’t intend to go riding this morning, do you?”

“I am wearing my riding habit,” she teased.

“Then I shall go with you.”

“I would enjoy that very much.”

Baldwin grew serious. “For the time being, I would prefer it if you did not leave Hawthorne House without me to accompany you.”

“Why is that?”

“Need I remind you that the streets of London are not a safe place?”

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