Page 66 of Her Beast

Rather than point out that she had already answered his question, she absently pulled apart a piece of toast, considering his question.

Malcolm wasn’t surprised; most people loved answering questions about themselves. Indeed, most people liked to talk about themselves, full stop.

“I made a bargain with my father,” she admitted.

“What sort of bargain?”

She worried her lip, visibly conflicted. “I don’t want—I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about it.”

Malcolm stared at her, transfixed. What in theworldcould she value so much that she’d bargain her life away to a man she admitted she didn’t like?

Tell me, he silently willed her.

Suddenly, she looked up from her shredded toast, her expression accusatory. “I already answered your question—more than one question, in fact. It’smyturn to ask a question.”

“No, I’ll only answer one per meal.”

Her jaw dropped. “But that’s not fair—you didn’t tell me that and I’ve answered a heap of them!”

“We’ve discussed the issue of fairness before, Julia.”

“Oh, was that a discussion? Because what I recall was more of a royal proclamation or a Papal bull.”

Malcolm threw back his head and laughed. When he looked at her, he saw that she was startled. “What? Your abductor isn’t allowed to laugh?”

“Of course you are, I just didn’t—” she broke off and shrugged.

“You just didn’t what?”

Her eyes narrowed and she gave him a quick, sly, smile. “If you want to know what I was going to say, you can ask me at our next meal.”

Malcolm grinned; the expression so rare it hurt his face.

And judging by her expression, it was just as shocking as his laughter had been.

He tossed aside his napkin and stood; it was time to leave when he started laughing and grinning.

“It has been a pleasure.” He bowed and then turned to go.

“Er, M-Malcolm?”

He turned back. “Yes… Julia?”

She swallowed, every emotion she was feeling—embarrassment, diffidence, nervousness, to name a few—flitting across her lovely face. “W-Will you be at dinner?”

“Yes, I will.”

Sheglowed.There was no other word for it. And Malcolm was responsible for her glowing.

“Good. Remember that you promised to me a third game of chessandcribbage afterward.”

Once again, he smiled like a fool. “I’m looking forward to it.”

All the way from the dining room to his office Malcolm thought about the mysterious bargain Julia had made with her father to marry Basingstoke.

A bargain she didn’t want to talk about.

What could Harlow give her to make her marry a man she clearly loathed?

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