She offered him a timid smile. “I am amenable to that.”

“Wonderful,” Lord Evan declared. “Would you care for me to escort you to your coach?”

Baldwin interjected, “Oliver and I will see to that.”

“Quite right,” Lord Evan said. “I suppose that would be for the best. I need to control the situation before the constable shows up and ruins everything.”

Stewart walked to the edge of the building and glanced over. “You may want to hurry. A large crowd has assembled around Kerley’s body.”

“How distasteful,” Jane murmured. “I have never understood the fascination of gawking at a dead body.”

“Nor I,” Lord Evan agreed.

Baldwin offered his arm. “Shall we?” he asked. “I would prefer it if we departed before anyone notices us.”

“I couldn’t even imagine what the gossips would say if they caught wind that we were here,” Jane commented.

“Precisely my point,” Baldwin remarked. “Reputations have been ruined for much less.”

Jane glanced over at Lord Evan and caught him staring unabashedly at her. “Goodbye, Lord Evan,” she said, her cheeks growing warm.

Lord Evan bowed stiffly. “Until tomorrow, my dear.”

Chapter Nineteen

The sun hadjust peeked over the horizon as Corbyn sat in his office and wrote up his report to Lord Daniel. He had a hard time focusing on the task at hand because his mind kept wandering towards Jane. He was counting down the moments until he could see her again, and to ensure she was unharmed by the recent events.

The door opened and Lord Daniel stepped into the room. “Did you have to kill Kerley?” he asked bluntly.

“I didn’t kill Kerley,” Corbyn said. “Lady Jane shot him in the chest, and he fell to his death.”

“Why didn’t you stop her?”

“I wasn’t given the chance.”

Lord Daniel sighed. “I suppose we should be thankful that we didn’t have to take this case to trial,” he said.

“As am I,” Corbyn agreed. “I am almost finished with your report, sir.”

“Excellent,” Lord Daniel responded. “I have no doubt the Home Secretary will be interested in reading it, as well.”

“I assumed as much.”

Lord Daniel frowned. “I’m sorry to hear about Sanders.”

“As am I,” Corbyn said. “I was surprised that he was turned so easily.”

“He’s not the first person to have his head turned by the promise of a fortune,” Lord Daniel stated.

“That is true.”

Lord Daniel tapped the desk with his finger. “You have earned a few days off.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have time for that.”

“Of course you don’t,” Lord Daniel said in an amused voice. “But I encourage you to make time for it.”

“Perhaps another time.”