AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“As was I, but it was a risk that I was prepared to take.”
“Well, I wasn’t prepared to lose one of my best agents,” Corbyn remarked.
“That was rather a nice thing of you to say,” Baldwin said with a smug smile, “especially since you’re losing me to retirement anyway.”
Corbyn huffed. “Don’t get used to it.”
“That was quite the impressive shot,” Baldwin remarked. “If you had missed—”
Corbyn spoke over him. “I don’t miss,” he said firmly. “Years of training with the Ninety-fifth Rifle Regiment ensured that. Besides, it was only a hundred-yard shot. I can shoot nearly twice that length with my Baker rifle.”
“How did you know to position yourself in that building?”
With a frown, Corbyn admitted, “It was a gamble. I knew you would try to avoid the crowds at all costs, but I hadn’t expected to see Marie next to you on the bench.”
Realization dawned on him, and Baldwin said, “You were there to shoot me.”
“Only if things turned out poorly and I had no other choice,” Corbyn replied. “If it was between you and saving hundreds of innocent people, I would have taken the shot.”
“You always were one to have a backup plan.”
Corbyn eyed him curiously. “You aren’t angry?”
“No,” Baldwin responded. “I would have done the same thing, given the circumstances.”
The coach came to a stop in front of a white, three-level townhouse with an iron fence surrounding the front.
They exited the coach and approached the main door. After they knocked, they each retrieved their calling cards.
The door was opened, and a tall, middle-aged butler greeted them. “Good evening,” he said. “May I help you?”
Baldwin extended his calling card. “We would like to speak to Lord Desmond.”
“I will see if he is available for callers,” the butler responded.
“I am afraid we must insist,” Corbyn asserted as he handed his calling card to the butler.
The butler tipped his head in acknowledgement before he opened the door wide and ushered them in. “Please wait in the entry hall while I go speak to Lord Desmond.”
After the butler walked off, Baldwin glanced around the entry hall, admiring the collection of art on display over the pale green papered walls.
The sound of the butler’s heels on the tile drew back his attention.
“Lord Desmond will see you,” the butler revealed, coming to a stop in front of them. “If you will follow me to his study.”
They followed the butler down a narrow hall towards the rear of the townhouse. The butler stopped at an open door and gestured that they should enter.
Baldwin stepped into the room first and heard the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Wood paneling dominated the walls, making the room very masculine.
Lord Desmond rose from his chair with a drink in his hand. “To what do I owe this great pleasure, that Lord Hawthorne has descended from on high to see me?” he asked in a mocking chide.
“I see we will forego the usual pleasantries, then,” Baldwin commented dryly as he came to stand across from Lord Desmond. “That should save us a considerable amount of time.”
Desmond’s eyes roamed over Corbyn. “Who did you bring with you? I don’t believe we’ve met…Lord Evan,” he probed, pausing as he examined the cards his butler had given him.
“Who I am is not important,” Corbyn replied as he moved to stand by the mantel over the fireplace.
Desmond grunted. “This should be interesting,” he muttered under his breath.
