Page 40 of Their Master

“I am ready to work.”

“That’s not what I asked, Moira,” he asked, his tone and smile gently chiding.

“I feel much better, thank you.”

“Good. But I have summoned my physician to examine you later, just to make sure.”

“Oh. That’s not necessary.”

This time, he didn’t smile. Instead, he cocked his head. “You didn’t read the contract as I asked, did you?” He spoke as softly as ever, but something in his gaze made her want to sink into the luxurious chair.

She considered lying but decided against it—not when he had already guessed as much.

“No, I didn’t read it.”

He leaned back in his chair and laced his hands over his flat midriff. “I’m not going to tell you how unwise it is to sign your name to something you’ve not read,” he said, his voice cooler than she’d ever heard it. “That is your own affair. However, when I ask you to do something, I would like you either to comply or tell me why you would rather not.” He gestured to the document on his desk and his mouth curved into a smile that made her shiver. “You would know that if you’d read the contract.”

Now look what you’ve done!Marie shouted in her head.Your impulsive, stubborn behavior will end with you ruining everything!

“I’ve not yet signed my name and now I’m not inclined to do so,” he continued.

“You’re right,” Moira blurted, scrambling. “It was foolish to put my name to a contract I haven’t read.”

“It won’t offend me if you don’t want this arrangement. Moira.”

“No, no—I do want it.” Even to her own ears the words sounded forced.

She wanted to scream; what waswrongwith her? This was exactly what she’d been working and scheming towards for months and months. Why was she trying to sabotage herself?

Perhaps you’ve still got a shred of conscience?Another voice, not Marie’s, whispered.

Perhaps you have unanswered questions and suspect your parents might be using you for something you don’t agree with?

Perhaps youlikeSmith more than you like any of your remaining family.

The last thought was like a slap.

Could that really be true?

Moira saw that Smith was waiting—patiently—and shoved the chaos in her head aside. “I do want this,” she said, more quietly this time.

“I want you to be sure, Moira. If you have a child with me, we will be in each other’s lives for a very long time.”

“Why did you pick me?” she demanded, not caring if she was jeopardizing everything with the question. She simplyhadto know. “There are thousands of women in London who would be grateful for such an offer. Why do you want to have a child with me?” Her voice broke on the last word and her eyes suddenly stung.

Smith stared at her a long moment before answering, his eyes darker, more intense than they’d been only seconds before.

“Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because you make me feel alive. Because I’m… drawn to you.”

Moira inhaled through both her mouth and nose and still she couldn’t seem to fill her lungs with enough air.

She heard Smith exhale slowly, as if he, too, was having difficulty breathing.

“I don’t know you well—yet” he admitted. “But I respect and admire what I do know. You are beautiful and appealing, but it is your intelligence and resilience that I find most attractive. Those are the same characteristics I’d want in my child.”

Moira’s body tightened at his words and she had to blink harder than ever to keep from crying.

When had anyone ever said such things to her? How could such lovely sentiments be so painful?

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