Page 24 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

Jane gave her brother a pointed look. “It wouldn’t be the first time he went to jail.”

“Those charges were dropped. It was a misunderstanding.”

“What if it wasn’t a misunderstanding at all?” Jane pressed. “What if Oliver truly has joined a radical group, and they are meeting at The Gutted Fish?”

Baldwin stared at her in disbelief. “Our brother is not a rebel.”

“It might explain his behavior,” Jane rationalized.

Baldwin glanced over at the open door, then said, “Our brother may not have a pristine reputation, but he wouldn’t do something so foolish as joining a radical group.”

“Then why did he go into The Gutted Fish?”

“Perhaps it is a cover for a gambling hell,” Baldwin proposed.

Jane nodded, recognizing that he made a valid point. “You could be right, but I am tired of all the secrets.”

“Oliver does have secrets—”

She cut him off again, too agitated to be polite. “As do you,” she declared. “I always feel like I am being pacified.”

“That is not true.”

“After Father died, you disappeared for three years, without any word, and then you just arrived home to claim your seat in the House of Lords,” Jane said.

“I believe I’ve sufficiently explained to you where I went.”

Jane huffed. “Yes, you spent time on Jersey Island near France,” she said. “But you never adequately explained why.”

A pained look came into his eyes. “It was because I wanted to get as far away from Father’s memory as possible.”

“And from us.”

“That isn’t true.”

“It felt that way, at least to me.” She started wringing her hands in her lap. “I have yet to have anyone ask how I’ve been since Father’s death,” she said. “I miss him terribly, as well.”

“I am sorry that I have neglected you these past few years, but I am home now.” The compassion in Baldwin’s voice mollified her. “I won’t ever leave you again.”

“I am pleased to hear that.”

“You are my favorite sister, and I can’t risk losing you.”

She smiled. “I am your only sister.”

“It doesn’t make my statement any less true.” Baldwin rose, walked over to his desk, and picked up a ledger. “I was hoping that you would help me with these ledgers.”

Jane perked up. “Are you in earnest?”

“You did a wonderful job while I was away, and I would be a fool not to ask for your help,” Baldwin acknowledged as he returned the ledger to its spot on the desk.

“I would love to help review the ledgers.”

Baldwin gave her an approving smile. “I would be remiss not to comment that Father taught you well.”

Jane bobbed her head in agreement. “I used to sneak into Father’s study while he was working, and he would sit me on his lap. As I got older, he would explain what he was doing, and he taught me a great deal about business, including how to balance ledgers.”

“How scandalous of him,” Baldwin teased.

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