Page 59 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

Corbyn rose from his chair to greet the Undersecretary of the Alien Office. “It is good to see you, Lord Daniel.”

“We don’t have time for pleasantries,” Lord Daniel stated firmly. “I want to know how your previous building was compromised.”

“I am looking into it—”

“Not well enough, if you ask me,” Lord Daniel said curtly.

“Frankly, we have very little to go on,” Corbyn admitted with a frown.

“When has that stopped you before?”

“It hasn’t, and it won’t.”

Lord Daniel nodded in approval. “I am glad to hear that,” he said. “Do you have any leads?”

“The suspect killed an agent and one of my informants. Furthermore, he knew the location of our office,” Corbyn informed him. “He has even been gracious enough to leave notes for me, leading me to believe that I am ultimately the target.”

“He left notes?”

“Yes, cryptic notes.”

Lord Daniel paused. “Could it be a previous agent targeting you?”

“For what purpose?”

“You have made a lot of enemies over the years.”

“I have,” he agreed, “but why kill Hannity and an informant? Why not just kill me?”

Lord Daniel sat down in the chair in front of the desk. “I don’t know,” he replied, “but I am not an agent, am I?”

“No, you are not,” Corbyn remarked, sitting back down.

Lord Daniel grew silent, then said, “I just worry that your mind may be muddled at this time.”

“Pardon?”

Lord Daniel’s demeanor was compassionate. “I’ve heard that your father is very sick and is fading fast.”

“That’s true, but it has nothing to do with this case.”

“Perhaps your mind is focused elsewhere, then?” Lord Daniel asked, eyeing him closely. “No one would fault you for that.”

Corbyn stiffened. “I assure you that my mind is focused on the case.”

“It might be best if you take some time off—”

Corbyn spoke over him. “I don’t think that is wise. Not when there is a suspect on the loose; a suspect who wants me dead.”

“Let the other agents handle it,” Lord Daniel encouraged.

“I don’t think I can.”

Lord Daniel looked displeased by his response. “You haven’t taken a holiday since you returned home from the peninsula nearly four years ago.”

“I don’t require a holiday.”

“I appointed you to lead this agency because I wanted an experienced agent that would be willing to take risks.”

---