Page 22 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

Lord Evan pointed the pistol at the men as he put his other hand out to Jane. “If you follow us, I will kill you,” he warned.

The men nodded their understanding and remained where they were.

Keeping the pistol in his hand, Lord Evan led her out of the alley and down the crowded road. He glanced behind him and let go of her hand. “Fortunately, those men seem to have a lick of sense. They’re not following us.” He tucked his pistol back into the waistband of his trousers.

“How did you learn to fight like that?” Jane asked curiously as she extended his jacket to him.

Lord Evan accepted the jacket and shrugged it on. “I was in the army once.”

“You were?”

“I was.”

“I hadn’t realized,” Jane said.

His voice became gruff. “I don’t like to talk about it.”

“I can’t imagine what you must have seen,” she attempted.

“It is not what I saw, but what I did.” He clenched his jaw, and she knew that she had pressed him too much.

Jane decided to change topics. “May I ask why you were near the docks today?”

“I had business I needed to attend to.”

“What kind of business?”

“Nothing that would concern you,” he dismissed.

They didn’t speak as they continued to walk down the street. It wasn’t until they arrived at the orphanage that Lord Evan spoke again.

“I hope I can trust that you won’t leave the orphanage unaccompanied again, Lady Jane,” he said firmly.

“I believe I have sufficiently learned my lesson.”

Lord Evan eyed her closely. “That may be true, but I can’t help but notice that you didn’t answer my question.”

Before she could reply, the door to the orphanage was flung opened and Madalene stepped out with a furious expression on her face. “Jane!” she exclaimed. “Whatever were you thinking?”

“I will leave you to it,” Lord Evan said with a nod, the hint of a smile on his lips.

Madalene came to stand next to Jane. “Thank you for escorting Jane back to the orphanage, Lord Evan.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied. “Now, if you will excuse me.”

Jane watched as Lord Evan walked down the street and disappeared into the crowd. How she envied him at this moment.

“I intend to chastise you for your reckless behavior,” Madalene said with a hand on her hip, “but before I can do so, you must instruct the girls in their French lessons.”

“I would be happy to,” Jane responded as she walked towards the main door.

Chapter Four

The sun wasstarting to set as Jane watched Baldwin pace in his study. He had yet to say anything, but she could see the fury in his eyes.

Baldwin stopped pacing and turned to face her. “Are you mad?”

“I assure you that I am not.”

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