A Dangerous Lord

by Beers, Laura

  “But we both know that Jane doesn’t always follow orders,” Madalene pressed.

  The dowager marchioness stopped pacing. “I already checked,” she said. “Jane hasn’t visited the stables all day, and her horse is still in the stall.”

  “Then where could she be?” Madalene asked.

  “The last two people to see her were Oliver and Emmeline this morning in the entry hall,” the dowager marchioness revealed.

  “Do they know where she went after that?” Baldwin asked.

  “No, they left her alone in the entry hall,” the dowager marchioness replied.

  Baldwin turned his attention towards Madalene. “When you spoke to Jane this morning, did she give you any indication she planned to sneak out?”

  “She didn’t,” Madalene responded.

  Oliver ran into the study with a folded piece of paper in his hand, his breathing labored. “I was searching the gardens and found a letter addressed to Corbyn.”

  Corbyn stepped forward and accepted the piece of paper.

  If you want Jane back alive, meet me where this all started at dusk. Come alone or Jane will die.

  “What does it say?” Baldwin asked.

  Corbyn crumbled the paper in his hand. “He wants to meet with me alone at dusk where this all started,” he shared.

  “Where is that?”

  “I have a fairly good idea.”

  A determined gleam came to Baldwin’s eyes. “We need to come up with a plan to ensure Jane returns home safely.”

  “My sentiments exactly,” Corbyn replied.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jane awoke to a splitting headache. She groaned as she brought her hand to her head and felt her matted hair. What had happened?

  With great effort, she moved to sit and realized that she was laying on the cold ground. Her eyes scanned the small, empty room. The paper was peeling away from the walls, large stains were on the ceiling, and a lone window sat against the far wall. Where was she?

  Rising awkwardly, Jane walked over to the door and tried to open it. Locked. She hurried over to the window, but it wouldn’t budge. It was nailed shut.

  Drat!

  She was quickly realizing the precariousness of the situation. Why would someone abduct her? Did her abductor intend to ransom her, or sell her to a merchant ship bound for India? She shuddered at that thought.

  Jane sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the wall. What was she going to do? She couldn’t just sit here and accept her fate. No; she had to do something to aid in her escape.

  She heard the sound of boots approaching before the door unlocked. It was pushed open and a tall, middle-aged man ducked inside. He was dressed as a gentleman, but her eyes were immediately drawn to a prominent scar running from his right cheek down to his neck.

  His piercing grey eyes watched her with mild amusement. “How are you feeling, Lady Jane?”

  “I am well,” she lied.

  “I was beginning to worry that the barbarian who brought you here had hit you over the head too hard,” he said. “I thought you might never wake up.”

  Her hand went back up to her head, grateful that the throbbing had eased. “Was it truly necessary to hit me over the head?”

  “I assure you that it was,” he said. “After all, I doubt you would have come willingly.”

  “You are correct.”

  He smiled at her. “Pardon me, where are my manners?” He performed an exaggerated bow. “My name is Adam Kerley, and I have been quite eager to meet you.”

  “Why did you abduct me?”

  “For bait, of course.”

  “Pardon?”

  Kerley leaned his shoulder against the wall. “I had to give Corbyn incentive to meet with me.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because I have seen the way he looks at you, and he is clearly besotted.”

  “I’m afraid you are mistaken.”

  He smirked. “No, it is you who are mistaken,” he said. “I have no doubt of Corbyn’s affection for you.”

  “Why do you wish to meet with Corbyn?” she asked.

  “It is a personal matter.”

  “I see,” she murmured, even though she didn’t see at all.

  Kerley straightened from the wall and walked closer to her. “If you cooperate, then no harm shall come to you.” His words were spoken in such a way that Jane found herself inclined to disbelieve him.

  “Do you intend to harm Corbyn?”

  “I do,” he replied.

  “May I ask why?”

  He ran his hand down the scar. “It’s Corbyn’s fault that I was terribly disfigured.” He looked at her curiously. “What do you know of him?”

  “We are friends, but I’m afraid I know very little about him.”

  He huffed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Corbyn has always been very secretive about himself,” he said. “Has he told you the pathetic lie that he works at the Home Office?”

  She shook her head. “He hasn’t.”

  “So how do you think he spends his time?”

  “I’m not sure,” she reluctantly admitted. “But I must assume that he pursues the usual pursuits for gentlemen.”

  Kerley chuckled. “He hasn’t told you,” he said with amusement in his voice.

  “Told me what?”

  “Corbyn runs an agency that is responsible for all the agents of the Crown.”

  “He does?”

  Kerley nodded. “Corbyn is a spy, and I must admit that he is not entirely terrible at his job.”

  “That seems entirely unlikely.”

  “You are so naïve, my dear,” he said. “Then I must assume that you don’t realize your brothers are spies, as well.”

  Jane knitted her brows together. “That’s impossible.”

  “According to my source, Baldwin has retired, but Oliver is still in the game.”

  “Oliver?” Jane repeated. “But he just spends his nights gambling and drinking.”

  “That’s just a cover,” Kerley informed her.

  “A cover?”

  Kerley gave her an understanding smile. “Most likely, he is trying to infiltrate a radical group to see if they pose a threat to the Crown.”

  Jane stared at Kerley for a long moment. “I believe you are mistaken.”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “How do you know this to be true?”

  Kerley came to crouch down in front of her. “Because I used to work with them,” he admitted, his eyes roaming her face. “At least until they left me behind in France.”

  “Why did they leave you behind?”

  “They thought I was dead, though they didn’t bother checking, and left me bleeding on the street.”

  “But you survived,” she pointed out. “Why didn’t you come home?”

  Kerley laughed loudly. “You are a delight, Lady Jane,” he said. “If I could have just come home, I would have, but the French weren’t as hospitable as they should have been. They tortured me for two years before I finally escaped.”

  Her hand flew up to her mouth. “How terrible.”

  “I prayed for death every day for two years,” Kerley shared, “but I was not so fortunate as to succumb to my injuries.”

  “I can’t even imagine the pain that you must have endured.”

  Kerley gave her a weak smile. “Thank you for that,” he said, “but during that time, I plotted my revenge against the man who had ultimately deserted me.”

  “Who was that?”

  “Corbyn,” Kerley replied. “He was the lead agent on the assignment, and he was the one who decided to leave me behind.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Corbyn.”

  A hard look came to Kerley’s eyes. “I learned the hard way that Corbyn only ever cared about himself.”

  “Corbyn wouldn’t have left you to die,” Jane asserted.

  “But he did,” Kerley replied as he rose from his crouched position. “Our mission was to break into a building for information on French
troop locations, but it didn’t go as planned.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A French guard caught Hannity as he was exiting the building and sounded the alarm.”

  “Who’s Hannity?”

  “He was one of the agents who came with us,” Kerley explained. “Baldwin, Corbyn, and I were the other three that went along, but we had all managed to leave the building undetected.”

  “Baldwin was with you?”

  Kerley nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “Baldwin is a formidable agent, as well. Or, at least, he was. I heard he spends the majority of his time at the House of Lords now.”

  “I can scarcely believe it.”

  “Regardless, it is true.”

  “If Hannity was the one caught, why wasn’t he the one left behind?”

  Kerley’s jaw tensed. “Because it is our sacred code not to leave anyone behind,” he stated. “I covered Hannity with my pistol as he ran to safety, but I failed to see a French soldier approach me from behind.”

  Jane remained quiet, unsure of what to say.

  “He swiped me with his bayonet, leaving this terrible scar along my face, and then shot me in the chest,” he revealed. “I don’t remember much more of that night, but I awoke in a French prison.”

  “How dreadful,” she muttered.

  “I was starved, beaten, and lived in a dank cell until I found the courage and means to escape,” Kerley said.

  Jane gave him a look filled with compassion. “I am sorry you were forced to endure those horrid conditions.”

  “That only made my resolution stronger,” he pressed. “Corbyn must die.”

  She gasped. “You mustn’t!”

  “I know you care for him, but he is a monster who needs to be stopped.”

  “Please don’t hurt him,” she pleaded.

  Kerley moved to the doorway. “You must trust that I am doing right by you,” he said. “In due time, Corbyn would have betrayed you, as well.”

  “I don’t believe that to be true.”

  “I’m afraid it is,” he replied. “Corbyn has, and forever will, only care for himself. He is a scourge to society, and I must rid it of him.”

  “You are wrong,” Jane asserted. “He is a kind, loving man behind a gruff exterior.”

  With a look that could only be interpreted as pity, Kerley watched her. “You are a foolish girl who has been tricked by a handsome face.”

  “If what you’re saying is true, why would Corbyn come for me and put his life in jeopardy?” she asked. “He wouldn’t.”

  “It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Kerley said as he placed his hand on the door. “In the meantime, I do hope you enjoy our hospitable lodgings.”

  Jane glanced around the room and muttered, “It’s hardly hospitable.”

  “It’s far better than the cell I lived in for two years,” he replied curtly. “At least you don’t have to deal with rats gnawing at your toes.”

  Kerley closed the door and locked it behind him. Jane rested her head against the wall as she thought about what he had revealed. Was it true that her brothers were spies? It would explain their peculiar behavior these past few years, and she had to admit that it didn’t seem so farfetched the more she thought about it.

  What of Corbyn? Could he be running an agency for all the agents of the Crown? And had he truly left Kerley for dead in France? That didn’t sound like the man she knew and loved. But what did she truly know about him?

  Frankly, Jane didn’t know what to believe anymore.

  Corbyn paced Baldwin’s study as he attempted to formulate a plan that ensured Jane would be saved from Kerley’s evil clutches. He refused to let any more harm come to Jane than already had.

  Blazes! This was precisely why he had worked so hard to avoid attachments in his life. They could be used against him, and innocent people could be hurt for no reason other than revenge. Why had he shown any favor to Jane? He should have just dismissed her out of hand and been content in his life. His lonely life.

  It was better to be lonely than to put people at risk. Hadn’t he always encouraged his agents to follow his example? Yet he’d failed in that most difficult task. He’d fallen in love. Which was an intolerably stupid thing to do.

  Baldwin’s voice broke through his musings. “Are you even listening to me?”

  “I am not.”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  Corbyn stopped pacing and turned to face his friend. “I’m a little distracted right now.”

  “Precisely my point,” Baldwin said. “You can’t face Kerley alone. It would be like a lamb to the slaughter.”

  “I disagree.”

  Oliver spoke up. “I’m afraid I agree with my brother. You seem awfully distracted.”

  “The note said I need to go alone,” Corbyn responded, “and I refuse to put anyone else in harm’s way.”

  “Well, I’m coming with you,” Baldwin asserted.

  “As am I,” Oliver said, crossing his arms over his chest. “She’s our sister. We’re coming.”

  Corbyn frowned. “What if Kerley sees you?” he asked. “It could be the difference between life or death for Jane.”

  Baldwin smirked. “I believe you’ve vastly underestimated us.”

  “I haven’t, I’m just afraid,” Corbyn admitted reluctantly.

  Oliver dropped his arms. “That doesn’t sound like you,” he remarked. “You’ve never been afraid before.”

  “I’ve never had so much to lose, either.”

  “Meaning?” Oliver pressed.

  Baldwin interjected. “Corbyn just realized that he is in love with our sister.”

  “He is?”

  “And our dear sister is in love with him, as well,” Baldwin shared.

  Oliver smiled. “I suspected that to be the case, but I never thought Corbyn would act on his feelings.”

  “I haven’t, but Kerley saw through me,” Corbyn said.

  “Do you intend to offer for her?” Oliver asked.

  “Heavens, no,” Corbyn declared. “After this is over, I will stay as far away from Jane as possible to ensure she is never harmed again.”

  Oliver looked displeased at his response. “That is rather a sad way to live.”

  “That may be true, but at least Jane will be safe,” Corbyn asserted.

  Baldwin leaned back on his desk. “A life without love is a lonely one, Corbyn.”

  “Regardless, it is a practical one for me.”

  “It doesn’t have to be,” Baldwin argued.

  “You would wish me to retire my position, then?” Corbyn asked in disbelief.

  Baldwin put his hands up in front of him. “I never said that.”

  “But you implied it.”

  “I merely suggested you consider what you truly want out of life,” Baldwin said.

  Corbyn gave him a pointed look. “Being a spy is all I have known,” he asserted. “It’s who I am.”

  “There was a time I would have agreed with you, but then Madalene came into my life,” Baldwin shared. “She saved me.”

  “Not everyone is as lucky as you,” Corbyn expressed. “As I have said, multiple times, my life is not conducive to having a wife, and it never will be.”

  “Just think on it,” Baldwin remarked. “There are worse things than death, you know.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I think you know what I mean,” Baldwin said. “Either way, we need to come up with a plan that will ensure no one dies.”

  A knock came at the door.

  “Enter,” Baldwin ordered.

  The door opened and Pratt stepped into the room. “A Mr. Stewart is here to call upon you, milord.”

  “Send him in,” Baldwin asked.

  “As you wish,” Pratt replied.

  Oliver gestured towards the door. “What is Stewart doing here?”

  “I sent for him,” Baldwin admitted.

  “Why?” Oliver asked.

  “I thought he might be useful.”

  �
�This is ludicrous,” Oliver declared. “With all of the agents at our disposal, why send for a blasted Runner?”

  “Because I found Stewart to be rather competent when we worked with him earlier,” Baldwin shared.

  “You worked with him, as well?” Oliver asked.

  “I did.”

  Oliver shook his head. “You’re both mad,” he muttered.

  Stewart stepped into the study, wearing a brown suit and matching waistcoat. “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” he greeted. “I received your missive and took the liberty of speaking to my informants.”

  “Did your informants reveal anything about an abducted lady?” Baldwin asked.

  “They did,” Stewart confirmed. “There has been a lot of activity coming from a building on Joshua Street. It’s in a disreputable part of Town, but many of the residents have noticed an increased presence of men frequenting the building during odd hours.”

  Corbyn nodded. “That isn’t surprising, since I am to meet Kerley at a building on Joshua Street.”

  “You are?” Baldwin asked.

  “It’s where Kerley and I had our first assignment together,” Corbyn explained. “It’s where he saved my life.”

  Oliver lifted his brow. “He did?”

  “We were trailing a suspect who had ties to a French spy and ended up in an office building on Joshua Street,” Corbyn shared. “Kerley and I split up as we searched the building, and the suspect cornered me with a pistol. If Kerley hadn’t come along when he did, I would have been killed.”

  Corbyn grimaced, then said, “Kerley is attempting to make a point. He saved my life, but I failed to save him when he needed me the most.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Baldwin asserted.

  “Wasn’t it?” Corbyn asked, his voice rising. “I was the one who gave the order to leave Kerley behind in France.”

  “We all thought he was dead,” Baldwin pressed.

  “But we were wrong!” Corbyn exclaimed. “Now Kerley has Jane, and who knows what he is doing with her!”

  Oliver’s voice was filled with compassion. “Jane is a clever girl. She will do what she needs to do to survive.”

  “You’re right,” Corbyn agreed. “I’m just angry with myself for letting it get this far. I should have stopped Kerley days ago.”

  “We’ll stop Kerley together,” Baldwin declared.