Lord Daniel chuckled. “I knew hiring you was the right call. I have never met anyone who works harder than you.”
“I will take that as a compliment.”
“You should,” Lord Daniel replied. “It was meant as one.”
“Thank you.”
Lord Daniel walked over to the door and stopped. “Just don’t let life pass you by too quickly, Corbyn,” he advised. “You deserve to have a life outside of this office.”
“I believe I’ve found one, sir.”
“That is good to hear, and I hope that Lady Jane will make you very happy.”
Corbyn stared at him. “How did you know I was referring to Lady Jane?”
Lord Daniel smirked. “You are not the only one who uses deductive reasoning,” he said before leaving.
Corbyn returned to his work and finished the report in short order. Once he folded the paper, he decided he needed to go on one errand before he called on Jane.
He left the building and hailed a hackney. It wasn’t long before he arrived at his family’s townhouse. He exited the coach and extended a few coins to the driver.
As he approached the main door, it was opened, and Mott greeted him as he stepped into the entry hall.
“Good morning, milord.”
“Good morning,” Corbyn replied as he handed him his top hat and gloves. “Is my mother awake?”
“Yes, she is,” Mott confirmed. “She decided to take breakfast with His Grace.”
“Excellent. I shall go see them at once.”
The butler tipped his head. “Very good, milord.”
As Corbyn started across the entry hall, his brother stepped out from one of the rooms.
“If it isn’t the prodigal son,” Simon mocked.
Corbyn stopped in front of his brother. “I see you aren’t drunk this morning,” he said. “That’s a good sign.”
Simon frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked. “I’m here to see Father.”
“That’s nice of you,” Simon muttered.
Corbyn eyed his brother curiously. “Whatever’s the matter with you?”
“It’s Beatrice,” Simon replied. “Now that Catherine has moved out of the townhouse, she wants to move in with me.”
“What did Father say?”
“He said ‘absolutely not’,” Simon revealed.
“I should say so.”
Simon sighed. “But Beatrice is rather insistent,” he said. “She is tired of her rented rooms being all the way across Town.”
“You already know my thoughts on that matter.”