Page 19 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“Then what was?”

He lifted his brow. “May I ask why you are peering into the windows of a pub?”

She lifted one of her shoulders. “Perhaps I wanted to go in and have myself a drink.”

“I think not,” Lord Evan said with a chuckle.

“You don’t know that,” she argued, tilting her chin.

He gave her a pointed look. “Why don’t you tell me what you are really doing here?” he asked. “I would prefer the truth, if you don’t mind.”

The fight drained out of her. “I followed Oliver to The Gutted Fish,” she admitted.

“You followed him all the way from Hawthorne House?” he asked in disapproval.

She shook her head. “I was at Madalene’s orphanage when I saw Oliver walking past the building.”

“And you thought it would be a good idea to follow him deep into the rookeries?”

Jane winced. “At the time, yes.”

“What about now?”

Lowering her gaze, she replied, “Not so much.”

“Why not?”

“I saw Oliver enter the pub, but I can’t see where he went.”

Lord Evan crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Why is that so important to you?”

Jane pursed her lips together. “I know that my brothers are keeping secrets from me,” she admitted, “but Oliver has the most.”

“Why do you say that?”

Jane gestured towards the window. “He walked all the way to the docks to frequent a pub. Why is this pub so important to him?”

“Perhaps he just likes the ale at The Gutted Fish.”

“Or he is doing something unseemly.”

“If he was, would you try to stop him?”

Jane paused. “I would,” she responded honestly. “But more so to protect Emmeline than Oliver. She is madly in love with him.”

Cocking his head, Lord Evan asked, “You don’t think Oliver loves his wife?”

“He claims that he does, but he disappears for days on end,” she explained. “Where does he go, and for what purpose?”

“Have you tried asking Oliver?”

She nodded. “I have, and he just dismisses me out of hand. Frankly, it is quite vexing.”

“I see.”

“Do you?”

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