Page 109 of Their Master

“No, Moira. Not with me.”

Chapter 25

Luke hurried through the hushed corridors toward Mr. Smith’s chambers, both anticipating and dreading seeing him.

The household, normally so comfortable and pleasant, had been tense and grim since Mr. Smith’s abduction. Even though Luke hadn’t asked Miss Moira about what had happened, he knew she’d played some part in it—a bad part if the distance between her and the master was anything to go by.

She’d moved through her days as though she were asleep, listlessly eating, bathing, going for her walks, and staring at books and never turning pages, merely existing, so broken and sad that it hurt to look at her.

What had Smith said to her three days ago when he’d called her to his study?

And where had the master gone immediately afterward?

None of this is your concern. He won’t appreciate you prying into his affairs.

Yes, that was true enough.

Luke paused outside the master bedchamber, calmed his breathing, and knocked lightly.

“Come in!” a clipped voice called from within.

Mr. Smith was seated at a small secretaire desk, scribbling away on something and when he looked up, his stern expression eased into a weary smile. “Ah, Luke. Come in and have a seat. I’ll just finish this and be right with you.”

Luke slid into a chair and took the opportunity to stare at him. He looked thinner—as if he’d been going without meals—but of course that was ridiculous. He’d only been gone three days. The bruises on his face had turned from black and brown to a sickly purple and sullen yellow that looked far worse.

“There,” Mr. Smith muttered, straightening the papers, and setting them to one side before removing his spectacles and looking up. “Miss Moira will shortly be moving to her own house.”

Luke’s eyes widened, but he nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“There are matters that need seeing to before the house is habitable.” He sounded distracted, almost as if he were speaking to himself. “Before you decide whether you will accompany her, you should understand the conditions.”

Go with her?

Mr. Smith picked up a sheet of paper and held it toward him. “She agreed to the following.”

Luke leapt to his feet to take the document. He sat and reached into an inner pocket to retrieve his glasses.

“I did not know you wore glasses,” Mr. Smith said.

Luke flushed. “Just for reading, sir.”

“You seem young to need them.”

“I’ve needed them since I was a lad.” He glanced down at the paper and his eyes widened a bit at the formidable list of requirements.

His head whipped up when he read the third item. “Pregnant?”

“Yes.” He snorted softly. “She purchased blood to fool us.”

Luke stared at Smith, trying to see how he felt about this development. He knew the other man would have been euphoric even a week ago.

But now…

Luke shook the thought away and focused on what was important: Miss Moira was pregnant with his master’s child! He could only feel one thing—no matter what had gone wrong between the two lovers—and that was happiness.

“Congratulations, sir.”

Smith smiled briefly. “Thank you. If you go with her, it will be part of your job to see that she complies with the list,” he said, his fingers drumming on the desk in an unprecedented display of restlessness.

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