The Spy Who Loved Her: Once Upon an Accident, Book 3 by Melissa Schroeder

was as much of a meddler as his mother.
    “Surprised to see you here,” Sebastian said from beside him.
    He glanced at his friend. “I wish I could say the same for you. The fact that you do Colleen’s bidding is embarrassing.”
    Sebastian smiled. “The benefits are worth it.” Then his smile faded. “I need a moment of your time.”
    Daniel nodded and followed him out onto the terrace.
    “Lord, I hate sopranos.”
    “It must run in the family,” Daniel murmured.
    “Ah, yes, Anna hates them too. But then Mother enticed her with the hopes of getting donations from people. From what I gather she has not been able to do any fundraising because of her harem of men who follow her around.”
    “Yes, of course, that is to be expected with the dress she is wearing.”
    Something passed over Sebastian’s face, but Daniel could not discern the look he gave him.
    “Yes, well, I am here to talk to you about her.”
    Every fiber of his being tensed. Had Sebastian guessed his regard for his sister? “What is it?”
    “There seems to be a problem down at the orphanage.”
    “Yes, she told me. A couple of the boys were sick.”
    “No. A few nights ago, someone tried to break into the place.”
    “Break in? To that orphanage? What would be the reason?”
    “I have no idea. I have put a man on it, doing a little digging, but I cannot seem to come up with one motive for a person to want to break into the place. Never mind the fact that the residents are in an uproar about it. They do not take kindly to someone even attempting to hurt something that is linked to my sister.”
    Sebastian said it with a heavy dose of pride. Daniel understood. There were not that many ladies of her rank who helped with charities, let alone ran the whole place.
    “What do you want from me?”
    Sebastian studied him for a moment and then said, “I know you have contacts.”
    His stomach roiled. He had done everything he could to keep things from Sebastian. Not because he did not trust him, but because he needed to protect him. If his enemies thought Sebastian knew anything, they would not stop in trying to obtain information. They would hurt him, his family…anything to gather the information. He opened his mouth to deny it, but Sebastian held up his hand.
    “Do not even lie to me. I do not want to know about them. I would never breach your privacy on that matter, but I am asking for you to ask a few of your…associates about it.”
    He nodded.
    “I would be grateful. I am right proud of her work there. She has done a lot and I would hate to forbid her to go because it has grown too dangerous. I am not sure I would succeed anyway.”
    “I have to agree with you there. Your sister has never been one to listen to the dictates of society.”
    Sebastian laughed. “Oh, when has anyone in my family done what society dictates?”
    Daniel laughed. “I cannot think of the last time you did. Other than marrying your countess.”
    A fond smile curved his friend’s lips and Daniel felt a twinge of envy. The accident that had led to their marriage had been just what Sebastian had needed. And he would be lying if he said he was not jealous of their bliss.
    “I will contact a few people, see if they have heard anything. I assumed they would have told me if they had already.”
    Sebastian frowned. “Why would they?”
    Because he had ordered surveillance on the orphanage last week when he had heard she was involved with it, but he could not tell his friend that. It spoke of too much interest.
    “They would let me know because of our association.”
    Sebastian nodded. “Understandable.”
    The soprano belted out the last few bars of her song. “Good God, that is horrible.”
    Sebastian laughed. “Yes. Fairly shrivels the goods. I best be getting back.”
    Daniel nodded as Sebastian drew past him. He stopped and said back over his shoulder, “Take care of yourself, Daniel.”
    Had Anna told him of his injury? No she would not have told him,