A Dangerous Game (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 2), Laura Beers [i read books TXT] 📗

also informed me that trade unions are beginning to form for the collieries.”

“That is no surprise since the coal miners are treated so insufferably.”

“It is still illegal to form a trade union,” Corbyn remarked. “Furthermore, I have just received word about a potential assignment in the peninsula. Wellington has sent a request through the Alien Office for an agent to report to him.”

“That sounds promising.”

“It is, but I do not know the length of the assignment. It could be months, or even years.”

“That wouldn’t be an issue for me.”

“I shall have to think on it since you are in the perfect position to spy on the members of Society,” Corbyn said. “I do not fault you for wanting to be reassigned but sometimes we must put our duty to our Country ahead of our own wants.”

“I understand.”

Corbyn gave him a brief smile. “But you do have a lovely wife that you now need to entertain.”

“I have no doubt that she is angry with me since I didn’t return home last night as I promised.”

“You know better than to make promises you might not be able to keep.”

Oliver sighed. “I just assumed I was attending a radical meeting and I would be home in time to sleep in my bed.”

“That was foolish on your part.”

“Do you ever get tired of keeping secrets?”

With a lifted brow, Corbyn remarked, “I do not.”

“My sister hates me, and I have no doubt my wife will follow suit soon,” Oliver confessed. “The only reason why Madalene approves of me is that she learned the truth of us before she married Baldwin.”

“This is what you signed up for.”

“I know, but I must admit that I am growing tired of it all.”

Corbyn eyed him closely as he asked, “Do you want to stop working as an agent?”

“No,” he rushed out.

Adjusting his white cravat, Corbyn suggested, “Why don’t you take some time off and decide what it is that you truly want out of life?”

“I don’t need time off—”

Corbyn put his hand up, stilling his words. “You have been working nonstop since we recruited you out of Oxford. It is time for you to take a break, even if it is only for a week or so.”

Before he could respond, Corbyn hit the top of the coach and it began to slow down. “This is my stop,” he said as he put his hand out the window to open the door, “but my coach will see you to Hawthorne House.”

Oliver watched as Corbyn exited the coach and disappeared into the crowd of people on the pavement.

The coach continued down the narrow streets, and Oliver leaned his head back. Perhaps it would be good for him to take a break and spend time with his lovely wife. He just needed to make one stop before going home.

Chapter Eleven

Emmeline’s fingers danced over the ivory keys of the pianoforte as her mind continually turned towards her inheritance. She wanted to go visit Lockhart Manor, but would Oliver insist on accompanying her? She hoped not, but the property did belong to him since they were married. Frankly, she had little say in the matter if he wanted to travel with her.

As she played her last note, Harriet’s voice broke through her musings. “Did you hear me, dear?”

Emmeline lifted her hands off the keys and shifted on her bench to face her mother-in-law, who was sitting on a settee. “I did not,” she replied. “I’m afraid I was woolgathering.”

“I assumed as much,” Harriet replied with a kind smile. “I was just saying that you play superbly.”

“Thank you,” she murmured. “My mother ensured that I was proficient at the pianoforte and the harp.”

“Both are fine instruments.”

Emmeline nodded. “That they are.”

Sitting next to her mother, Jane eyed her curiously as she lowered her book to her lap. “You have been out of sorts since you met with your father’s solicitor,” she commented. “May I ask what you discussed?”

Rising, Emmeline walked over and sat across from them on a camelback settee. She took a deep breath before revealing, “I am entitled to a dowry of fifteen thousand pounds, and I inherited a small estate in Whitstable.”

Jane stared back at her in disbelief. “I thought you had no dowry.”

“I thought so as well, but it appears that my uncle deceived me,” Emmeline said. “Most likely, he intended to keep my dowry and estate for himself.”

“How distasteful,” Harriet murmured. “I had always assumed Lord Taylor was an honorable man.”

“As did I,” Emmeline responded. “Prior to this morning, I had no reason to ever question my uncle’s intentions.”

“Well, I am glad that you got it sorted out,” Jane remarked.

Emmeline bit her lower lip, then said, “My father’s will stipulated that my dowry would come to me as an inheritance on my twenty-first birthday.”

Jane frowned as realization dawned on her face. “Does this mean you didn’t need to marry Oliver in the first place?”

“It would appear that way,” she replied.

A silence fell over the room as Emmeline lowered her gaze to her lap. She didn’t want to see the looks of pity that she had no doubt were aimed at her.

Harriet spoke up in a tender voice. “I, for one, am pleased that you married my son. I have enjoyed having you as my daughter-in-law.”

Bringing her gaze up, Emmeline gave her a weak smile. “I have enjoyed being a part of this family, but I just wish things were different with Oliver.”

“You mean you want your husband not to be such a despicable boor?” Jane asked in a haughty voice.

“You could say that,” Emmeline replied.

Jane huffed. “You have been a saint when it comes to dealing with my brother,” she declared. “You need to let him know how dissatisfied you are.”

“It is not my place.”

“It is most definitely your place,” Jane countered with a lifted brow. “You are his wife. If you can’t put him in his place, who can?”

Harriet bobbed her head. “I agree with Jane, and I rarely do.”

Jane smiled. “It’s true.”

Emmeline pressed her