Read Online My Lady, My Spy (Secrets and Seduction Book 4) by Sheridan Jeane - Free Book Online
Authors: Sheridan Jeane
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Now, he wanted to get into the same storeroom again, but the new guards weren’t so easily manipulated.
“Did they sack him?” Lord Cary asked in a disinterested tone. “That seems a bit harsh. He only left the room unguarded for a few minutes.”
Frederick recalled staring at him in stunned disbelief. “Did you think the fact he let one of your spies slip into the room would go unpunished? His employers dismissed him the very same day. Within a month, he was reduced to picking pockets. A month after that, he was in prison.”
“That’s blasted inconvenient.” Lord Cary pinched his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger as he concentrated. “Now the railroad has two guards on duty. I might be able to sway the younger one, but the older man is one of those dedicated sorts. A former army sergeant. Rigid as they come.”
Frederick narrowed his eyes. “Wait. Is that all you have to say? You’re irritated because you’ve been inconvenienced after you ruined a man’s life?”
Lord Cary stared at him blankly. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Frederick let out a sigh. “I’m referring to the man you bribed. The one who was dismissed.”
Confusion fled his face. “Ah. Him.” He shook his head. “The man never should have been a guard. He wasn’t suited for it. Much too easily bored. He rather enjoyed the excitement of helping one of Her Majesty’s spies.”
Something cold tightened around Frederick’s neck. “I thought you said you bribed him.”
“No, no. I was mistaken. I recall the young man quite clearly now. Idealistic. Easily swayed.”
“You ruined his life.”
“Don’t be foolish.” Lord Cary’s face reddened, but then his voice took on a defensive tone. “He ruined his own life. A man should know his own limitations, don’t you think? He wasn’t suited for the position of night guard. He should have known that about himself. Life is made of choices. What position to take. Who to marry. Who to help. Whether to turn right or left at a crossroads. Some decisions are minor, and some have enormous consequences. That former night watchman made too many poor ones. I certainly didn’t force him to become a pickpocket. If fact, it appears he made yet another poor career choice, given that he ended up in jail so quickly.”
“But you manipulated him into losing his job. If not for your interference, he’d probably still be working there.”
“Ah. Now I comprehend your meaning.” Lord Cary rubbed at his chin for a moment. “You might be right about that. I found him to be a likable enough fellow, if a bit gullible.” He swayed his head from side to side, as if weighing a conclusion. “You’re right. Although I doubt he would have remained in his position as a guard for long, I’m fairly certain he never would have turned to a life of crime if he hadn’t been sacked.” He let out a sigh. “I suppose that when he was dismissed, his employer refused to give him any sort of letter of recommendation.”
“You’re correct in your supposition. You manipulated him into a desperate position. I thought you already knew all this.”
Lord Cary jutted out his lower lip as he shook his head. “No. I don’t keep track of all the men I’ve ever used, but now you’re making me wonder if others might have suffered due to my interference in their lives.”
“Only now?” Frederick asked, blurting out the question before he could stop himself.
Lord Cary looked startled. “What was that?”
Frederick peered at him more closely. “What will you do now?”
Lord Cary scowled. “I think I’ll investigate this further. Although I doubt there’s anything I can do to help now that the man is in prison. But there’s his family to think about.” He shook his head. “Blast it. Now I’m feeling guilty about the way I used him.”
Lord Cary's methods had radically changed since that day. He’d become more cautious when manipulating people. In fact, he’d
“Did they sack him?” Lord Cary asked in a disinterested tone. “That seems a bit harsh. He only left the room unguarded for a few minutes.”
Frederick recalled staring at him in stunned disbelief. “Did you think the fact he let one of your spies slip into the room would go unpunished? His employers dismissed him the very same day. Within a month, he was reduced to picking pockets. A month after that, he was in prison.”
“That’s blasted inconvenient.” Lord Cary pinched his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger as he concentrated. “Now the railroad has two guards on duty. I might be able to sway the younger one, but the older man is one of those dedicated sorts. A former army sergeant. Rigid as they come.”
Frederick narrowed his eyes. “Wait. Is that all you have to say? You’re irritated because you’ve been inconvenienced after you ruined a man’s life?”
Lord Cary stared at him blankly. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Frederick let out a sigh. “I’m referring to the man you bribed. The one who was dismissed.”
Confusion fled his face. “Ah. Him.” He shook his head. “The man never should have been a guard. He wasn’t suited for it. Much too easily bored. He rather enjoyed the excitement of helping one of Her Majesty’s spies.”
Something cold tightened around Frederick’s neck. “I thought you said you bribed him.”
“No, no. I was mistaken. I recall the young man quite clearly now. Idealistic. Easily swayed.”
“You ruined his life.”
“Don’t be foolish.” Lord Cary’s face reddened, but then his voice took on a defensive tone. “He ruined his own life. A man should know his own limitations, don’t you think? He wasn’t suited for the position of night guard. He should have known that about himself. Life is made of choices. What position to take. Who to marry. Who to help. Whether to turn right or left at a crossroads. Some decisions are minor, and some have enormous consequences. That former night watchman made too many poor ones. I certainly didn’t force him to become a pickpocket. If fact, it appears he made yet another poor career choice, given that he ended up in jail so quickly.”
“But you manipulated him into losing his job. If not for your interference, he’d probably still be working there.”
“Ah. Now I comprehend your meaning.” Lord Cary rubbed at his chin for a moment. “You might be right about that. I found him to be a likable enough fellow, if a bit gullible.” He swayed his head from side to side, as if weighing a conclusion. “You’re right. Although I doubt he would have remained in his position as a guard for long, I’m fairly certain he never would have turned to a life of crime if he hadn’t been sacked.” He let out a sigh. “I suppose that when he was dismissed, his employer refused to give him any sort of letter of recommendation.”
“You’re correct in your supposition. You manipulated him into a desperate position. I thought you already knew all this.”
Lord Cary jutted out his lower lip as he shook his head. “No. I don’t keep track of all the men I’ve ever used, but now you’re making me wonder if others might have suffered due to my interference in their lives.”
“Only now?” Frederick asked, blurting out the question before he could stop himself.
Lord Cary looked startled. “What was that?”
Frederick peered at him more closely. “What will you do now?”
Lord Cary scowled. “I think I’ll investigate this further. Although I doubt there’s anything I can do to help now that the man is in prison. But there’s his family to think about.” He shook his head. “Blast it. Now I’m feeling guilty about the way I used him.”
Lord Cary's methods had radically changed since that day. He’d become more cautious when manipulating people. In fact, he’d
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