Page 134 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

The man gestured towards the chairs. “Take a seat. Kerley will be with you in a moment.”

Corbyn sat down. He counted three armed men standing guard.

A door opened and Jane walked into the room. Her hair was disheveled, her white gown was horribly wrinkled, and she had dirt smeared on her face, but to him, she had never looked more lovely.

Corbyn rose from his seat as she approached him. “Are you all right?”

“You should never have come,” she said in a low, hushed voice.

“I had to.”

“You have to leave.” Jane glanced over her shoulder before revealing, “This man intends to kill you.”

“I am well aware of that fact.”

“Then why did you come?” Jane asked, stopping in front of him.

He gave her a reassuring smile. “Do you even have to ask?”

Jane met his gaze, and he found himself transfixed as he stared deep into her green eyes. But the moment passed when he heard Kerley’s voice.

“Isn’t it wonderful when two people find each other, despite such great odds?” Kerley mocked as he stepped into the room.

Corbyn put his hand out and ushered Jane behind him. “Let Lady Jane go free,” he said. “This is between you and me. She is an innocent in all of this.”

“You are not in a position to give any orders, Corbyn.” Kerley chuckled dryly. “Isn’t that ironic, considering you spend your days giving orders?”

“I’m appealing to your sense of honor,” Corbyn remarked. “Jane doesn’t deserve this horrific treatment.”

Kerley slowly walked towards him, his heels clipping on the tile. “I’m afraid you made Jane a part of this already.”

“Jane knows nothing of me or my past.”

“Then it should come as a relief that I told her everything about you. Frankly, I was appalled at how you kept her in the dark. That was poorly done on your part.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I informed your precious Jane that you are a spy and responsible for all the agents of the Crown.”

Corbyn glanced anxiously over his shoulder at Jane but didn’t say anything in response.

“I must admit that she was rather surprised to hear that her two brothers were spies, as well, but it was only a matter of time before she discovered that on her own.” Kerley came to a stop behind one of the chairs. “After all, there should be no secrets between lovers.”

“We’re not lovers,” Corbyn said.

“And why is that?” Kerley asked. “Could it be that you refuse to acknowledge your feelings towards her because she could prove to be a distraction?”

“I have my reasons.”

Kerley chuckled. “You always preached that we should avoid anyone who could be a liability. I’m beginning to think that you prefer to be alone.”

“It is much simpler that way.”

“I would agree with you there.” Kerley placed his hands on the back of the chair. “Do you remember my Betty?”

“I do.”

A faraway look crossed Kerley’s face. “When I finally came home, I discovered that she had married another,” he shared. “I suppose three years is too long to wait for someone. I believe I expected too much from her.”

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