Chapter 124 Infiltration

The flickering orange glow of Black Bart's burning mansion painted an eerie picture on the dusty road back to Haverbrook. Jane and Lucian, both looking like they'd rolled around in a chimney, huddled on horseback, the rhythmic thump of hooves the only sound besides the occasional snort from Lucian's magnificent black stallion. "Look," Jane started, her voice rough from smoke inhalation, "before we go full-on revenge squad on Black Bart, there's something I gotta do." Lucian, his face smudged with soot like a chimney sweep on a bad day, gave her a knowing nod. "Compton, then?" Relief washed over Jane. "Yeah. Gotta make sure Mary and Black Bart's little scheme didn't totally wreck my marriage." He squeezed her waist reassuringly. "Totally get it. Lead the way, Duchess." They rode in a tense silence, the wind whipping through their hair and the horse pounding the dusty road like a giant's drum. By the time they reached the imposing Harrington mansion, its silhouette dark against the