Page 126 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

With great effort, she moved to sit and realized that she was laying on the cold ground. Her eyes scanned the small, empty room. The paper was peeling away from the walls, large stains were on the ceiling, and a lone window sat against the far wall. Where was she?

Rising awkwardly, Jane walked over to the door and tried to open it.Locked. She hurried over to the window, but it wouldn’t budge. It was nailed shut.

Drat!

She was quickly realizing the precariousness of the situation. Why would someone abduct her? Did her abductor intend to ransom her, or sell her to a merchant ship bound for India? She shuddered at that thought.

Jane sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the wall. What was she going to do? She couldn’t just sit here and accept her fate. No; she had to do something to aid in her escape.

She heard the sound of boots approaching before the door unlocked. It was pushed open and a tall, middle-aged man ducked inside. He was dressed as a gentleman, but her eyes were immediately drawn to a prominent scar running from his right cheek down to his neck.

His piercing grey eyes watched her with mild amusement. “How are you feeling, Lady Jane?”

“I am well,” she lied.

“I was beginning to worry that the barbarian who brought you here had hit you over the head too hard,” he said. “I thought you might never wake up.”

Her hand went back up to her head, grateful that the throbbing had eased. “Was it truly necessary to hit me over the head?”

“I assure you that it was,” he said. “After all, I doubt you would have come willingly.”

“You are correct.”

He smiled at her. “Pardon me, where are my manners?” He performed an exaggerated bow. “My name is Adam Kerley, and I have been quite eager to meet you.”

“Why did you abduct me?”

“For bait, of course.”

“Pardon?”

Kerley leaned his shoulder against the wall. “I had to give Corbyn incentive to meet with me.”

“Why me?”

“Because I have seen the way he looks at you, and he is clearly besotted.”

“I’m afraid you are mistaken.”

He smirked. “No, it isyouwho are mistaken,” he said. “I have no doubt of Corbyn’s affection for you.”

“Why do you wish to meet with Corbyn?” she asked.

“It is a personal matter.”

“I see,” she murmured, even though she didn’t see at all.

Kerley straightened from the wall and walked closer to her. “If you cooperate, then no harm shall come to you.” His words were spoken in such a way that Jane found herself inclined to disbelieve him.

“Do you intend to harm Corbyn?”

“I do,” he replied.

“May I ask why?”

He ran his hand down the scar. “It’s Corbyn’s fault that I was terribly disfigured.” He looked at her curiously. “What do you know of him?”

“We are friends, but I’m afraid I know very little about him.”

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