Page 110 of Their Master

Mr. Smith saidif.Notyou must go.

This was Luke’s chance, rightnow.He could sayno.He could stay beneath his master’s roof—perhaps they’d resume their relationship—and he could allow somebody else to care for Smith’s discarded lover and unborn child.

Luke frowned. Why did that not feel quite… right?

“If I stay, then what would my duties be?” he asked.

Smith shrugged. “The same as before, if that is enough to keep you from getting bored. The house is so well-run I know there often isn’t much to do.”

Luke gripped the arms of the chair to keep from leaping up and capering with joy. They would return to their former arrangement!

But then Miss Moira’s face—and her deadened gaze—flashed through his mind. She was pregnant and yet seemed to have lost her will to live.

Although Luke loved Mr. Smith, he’d grown quite fond of Miss Moira, and not only because of the child. She’d always been kind to him and friendly.

And she looked so very lost right now—so in need of somebody to care for her.

And the fact that it wasSmith’sbaby in her belly, well…

“If I were to go with Miss Moira, could I—” Luke broke off, not sure how to phrase his desire.

“Could you still come see me?” Smith guessed, a faint smile curving his lips.

Luke nodded.

“Yes.” Smith’s smile grew into a fully-fledged smirk. “In fact, I might have to insist on it.”

Luke’s brain, already reeling, spun. Did Mr. Smith just say what he thought he’d said?

“If you don’t wish to go, you must let me know now so that I might engage somebody suitable as soon as possible.” Smith hesitated, looked Luke in the eyes, and then said, “She likes you and is comfortable with you. I would consider it a favor to me if you went with her.”

And that was all it took.

“Of course, I will go with her, sir.”

Smith’s look of relief was all the gratitude Luke needed, but the other man smiled and said, “Thank you, Luke. That is a weight off my mind. I will want to speak to you at least weekly, primarily to check on her health and the condition of the child. She will also see the physician regularly, but he will report to me separately.”

“Yes, sir.”

“She is aware that you will report to me as it is part of our agreement.”

“Of course, sir.” Luke was relieved to hear that, because he didn’t think that had been the case before.

“If there is anything else you wished to say—now is your chance, Luke.”

Now is the perfect time to say it! Say it now! Say it now! This is your chance to at leasttellhim. And if he never wants to see you again… Well, you will already be gone.

Luke swallowed and forced himself to meet the other man’s gaze.

Smith lifted his eyebrows. “Yes?”

“I have—” Luke’s voice broke. “I have missed being with you,” he said, his heart pounding so hard that his chesthurt.

But rather than look disappointed or disgusted, his master’s stern expression softened. “And I, you.”

Luke shoved down the deafening cheering in his head and hurried on, “It’s more than that.”

Smith waited patiently.

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