Page 6 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

Not amused by his antics, she asked, “Does Emmeline know that you are home?”

Oliver shook his head. “Not yet. I only just arrived.”

“Do you think it is wise to be gone for days when you have a wife waiting for you at home?” she asked, placing her hand on her hip.

“Not this again,” he sighed. “Emmeline understands my reasons. Why can’t you?”

“Your reasons?” she questioned. “You go to gambling hells and drink yourself into oblivion.”

“I also spend time with my friends.”

“Oh, how could I have forgotten that?” she mocked.

Oliver grew solemn, making him look even more tired. “Need I remind you that I do not answer to you, Jane?”

“And I am most fortunate for that.”

“Then why do you keep harping on me?”

“You have only been married to Emmeline for a month now, yet you still act like a bachelor.”

“I have my reasons.”

“They are foolhardy, then,” Jane said, dropping her hand to her side. “You need to be home with Emmeline. Your wife.”

“I am well aware that Emmeline is my wife,” he remarked dryly.

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Then act like it,” she declared.

Oliver frowned. “As usual, I have enjoyed our little chat, but I would like to go speak to Emmeline now.”

“That is the first intelligent thing you have said this whole conversation.”

As Oliver walked past her, Jane shook her head at her brother. He was a fool. He had a doting wife, but he was too selfish to give her any heed. He only seemed to care about gambling and drinking with his friends. She truly hoped he realized how lucky he was before it was too late.

The heavyset butler spoke up. “May I get you something, Lady Jane?”

“No, thank you.”

With a kind smile, Pratt commented, “I couldn’t help noticing that you seem distracted.”

“My brother is just so…” Her words trailed off as she tried to think of the right word, “Vexing.”

Pratt wisely did not comment, just tipped his head in acknowledgement.

“If you will excuse me, I need to change before Lady Hawthorne and I leave for the orphanage,” Jane said as she started walking backwards.

Jane turned on her heel and headed up the stairs. She walked down the hall, which was lined with portraits, and stopped by her brothers’ pictures. Their appearances may be similar, but that is where the similarities ended.

Baldwin left shortly after the death of their father and had stayed away for three years. Even though he was vague on where he had been, he still embraced his role of husband to Madalene. Whereas Oliver was still a despicable cad, and she feared that nothing was going to change that. Not even for Emmeline.

She continued down the hall to her bedchamber and opened the door. She had decorated her room with pale purple paper on the walls, a four-poster bed, and a velvet camelback settee that sat in front of the hearth.

Her petite, blonde lady’s maid was busy cleaning up her dressing table, but glanced up when she walked into the room. “Are you ready to change, my lady?”

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