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

despite knowing how dangerous it was, because I didn’t care if I lived or died.”

“You ran away from your responsibilities, leaving us to pick up the pieces.”

“That is true.”

Rising abruptly, Oliver walked over to the window and looked out. “At times, I want to run far away from my life, as well. But I am not in the position to do so.”

“Why are you so unhappy?”

Oliver spun around and tossed his arms in the air. “I don’t know,” he declared. “I’m just angry.”

“Who are you angry at?”

“At everyone!” he exclaimed.

Baldwin leaned forward and placed his drink on the table. “You must be careful. Your feelings could get you killed,” he warned.

“For which, I wouldn’t mind.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Don’t I?” Oliver questioned.

His brother eyed him with concern. “You have a wife that you must think of now.”

“A wife.” He chuckled dryly. “Yes, I do have a wife, and I can’t tell her a blasted thing about my life.”

“It is for her own protection.”

“Is it?” he asked. “I have a wife who has feelings for me, but I can’t reciprocate them without putting her in harm’s way.”

Baldwin sighed deeply. “I understand what you are going through.”

“I know you do, but you were fortunate enough when Madalene discovered the truth about you.”

“I must admit that I was very blessed.”

“I won’t be so lucky,” Oliver said, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Instead, my wife thinks I am incapable of being faithful to her. I see the questions in her eyes, and it is like a dagger to my chest.”

“The scandal in the newspapers will die down—”

Speaking over him, Oliver declared, “I am not speaking about the newspapers or the idiots that are placing bets at White’s over the state of our marriage.”

“Then what are you speaking of?”

“Emmeline doesn’t trust me based on my own actions,” Oliver said. “I have lied to her on multiple occasions since we arrived home from Gretna Green.”

“I am not sure what to say.”

“Neither do I.” Oliver leaned back against the windowsill. “I have no idea how to rectify the situation.”

“Do you want to?”

Oliver gave him a blank look. “What are you asking?”

His brother took a sip of his drink, then asked, “Do you want a real marriage with Emmeline?”

“Even if I did, it is impossible,” he replied. “I would have to give up being an agent, and I am not willing to do that.”

“Why would you have to give up being an agent?” Baldwin inquired.

With a blank stare, Oliver replied, “How would I continue to explain my absences?”

“Regardless, you don’t need to work,” Baldwin commented. “I can increase your monthly allowance—”

Oliver cut him off. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve acquired my own sizeable fortune from gambling.”

“Then I will purchase you an estate, and you can retire to the countryside to live the life of a landowner.”

“That sounds terrible.” Oliver shuddered.

Baldwin grinned. “I assure you that it is not as bad as you think.”

“I want danger and excitement, not boredom and balancing the ledgers.”

“Since I have retired from being an agent, I have discovered that being married is all the excitement that I can take.”

Oliver smiled. “I am going to tell Madalene you said that.”

“I did want to speak to you about something rather uncomfortable,” Baldwin said, setting his glass down.

“Which is?”

“Emmeline has decided to travel to Whitstable tomorrow.”

Oliver knotted his brows. “Did she state why?”

“Did she not inform you that she inherited a small estate in Whitstable, known as Lockhart Manor?”

“She did not.”

Baldwin gave him a look of pity. “She asked Pratt to arrange for the transportation and will be departing at first light.”

“How long is she going to be gone?”

“I am not sure,” Baldwin said, “but she assured Pratt that she would return in due time.”

Oliver pursed his lips together as he stared at his brother. “Perhaps this is for the best.”

Baldwin’s mouth dropped. “How is this for the best?” he asked in disbelief. “Your wife is running away from you.”

“Didn’t she say that she would be returning?”

“She did.”

“Then I should respect her decision to be alone.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Baldwin declared. “You are just going to let your wife leave, willingly?”

“What would you have me do?” he questioned. “Should I force her to stay at Hawthorne House with me and be miserable?”

Baldwin shook his head. “You are a bloody idiot.”

Oliver straightened from the windowsill. “Not everyone can have a perfect marriage like you and Madalene.”

“I fought for Madalene,” Baldwin countered, “and you are letting your wife go without a fight.”

Cocking his head, Oliver asked, “Pray tell, has anything changed between us? Am I suddenly free to tell her the truth about me?”

“No, but—”

“I will not yield, no matter how much you attempt to argue with me,” he interjected.

“Then you don’t deserve her.”

Tossing up his arms, Oliver exclaimed, “Don’t you think I already know that?” He walked swiftly to the door. “From now on, stay out of my blasted business.”

Oliver opened the door and slammed it behind him. He headed towards the entry hall and rushed up the stairs. As he walked down the hall, his eyes became fixed on Emmeline’s door and he came to a stop in front of it. He brought his hand up, but he couldn’t seem to find the courage to knock. Nothing had changed between them. It would be best if he let her go.

At least she could be happy… without him.

Chapter Thirteen

Emmeline watched in amusement as her lady’s maid’s head bobbed up and down as she tried to sleep in the coach. They had been traveling all day, and the sun was on the horizon as they arrived in Whitstable.

Mary made a snorting sound as her eyes flew open. She blinked a few times, then said, “Please say that we are almost there.”

“We should be,” Emmeline replied. “We are traveling through the village as we speak.”

Mary glanced over at the window. “We have been in this coach nearly all day.”

“We did stop to swap out the horses.”

“That we did,” Mary remarked, “but it was only