A Most Dangerous Profession(10)

So she would do anything, say anything, pretend anything, steal anything that he asked. But in the end, she would win.

She nodded. “I’m sorry. I was irritated at being sent on a pointless mission.”

He eyed her narrowly but finally nodded, satisfied with her contrite expression. “That’s better. You seem to forget that I hold what’s most precious to you in the palm of my hand.” He held out his bare hand, the skin eerily white in the mist. “Do you want me to finish this?” He closed his hand tightly, as if crushing the very air.

She swallowed convulsively. “I want to finish this so that we’re both satisfied. But you must understand this: the loss of the onyx box was not my fault. I did what I said I would do. But not only was Captain Hurst there, but his brother as well and—”

“Hold. His brother? Which one?”

She cursed her slip of tongue. This is why I mustn’t get angry. I lose my concentration and make mistakes. “Robert Hurst. It seems that every time you send me to fetch an onyx box, I run into him.”

Aniston appeared intrigued. “Ah! He was at Bancroft’s sale, too?”

“Of course he was there; some of the artifacts were quite impressive.”

“Did he mention the onyx box?”

“Yes. He was hoping to find another there, as were we.”

Aniston nodded slowly. “Interesting. Very interesting.”

“I was most unhappy to see him. He is a significant force.”

Aniston murmured, “Yes, he is.” He rubbed his chin. “So the Hursts are still pursuing the onyx boxes.”

“It seems so. Just how many are there?”

“Three.”

Damn it. He always knows. She wet her dry lips. “So Hurst has one, and this unknown buyer has the other. Where’s the third?”

“I haven’t found it yet, but I will.”

Ah ha! He doesn’t know that the Hursts have already recovered it. Though she wasn’t certain how the information was useful, it soothed her to know that Aniston wasn’t as all-powerful as she’d thought him to be.

Aniston turned his cool gaze upon her now. “Leave the final box to me. I will discover its location soon enough. Meanwhile, you will fetch the one that was recently purchased by this buyer.”

“So you know who has it?”

“Sir Lachlan Ross. I have a carriage waiting to take you first thing in the morn—”

“No.”

Aniston’s mouth tightened and Moira hurried to add, “Please. I just returned and it’s been weeks since I—“ Her hands curled into fists. “Aniston, you promised I could see her when I returned.”

Aniston’s gaze narrowed. “But you were not successful.”

“You know it wasn’t my fault.”

He pursed his lips but then gestured toward his coach. “Fine. You may see her.”

Moira’s heart thudded hard. “She—she’s here?”

He nodded to his coachman, who rapped upon the door panel. It opened and a sharp-faced woman climbed from the carriage, pausing to say sharply to someone inside, “I said put that down and come!”

Moira’s world spun slowly, the beat of her heart so loud it drowned out all thoughts. A small foot appeared in the doorway, followed by a tousle-headed child of five years of age. The girl had long dark hair and blue eyes surrounded by thick lashes. She had a cherubic face, round with rosy lips and a snub nose.

The child’s expression darkened on seeing Aniston. But when her gaze flickered past him to Moira, it was as if the sun had broken through the clouds.

“Mama!” The small child jerked her hand free from the nurse’s as she ran forward.

“Och!” the nurse exclaimed, stomping forward. “You little brat, come back here!”

But Moira was faster. With a sob, she reached Rowena and scooped her little body up, enveloping the child in her arms.

Aniston lifted an indifferent hand to the nurse. “Let them have their moment. After all, they get so few.”

Moira buried her face in the girl’s neck as the child burst into tears and wailed, “I-I w-want t-to g-go h-home!”

“So do I, sweetheart.” Moira held her daughter close, rubbing her cheek against the child’s silky hair and kissing every inch of the dear, dear face.

She would have given her life to take Rowena home with her right now, and for a wild moment, she thought about picking up the child and running into the mist. But she’d tried that once, and she—and Rowena—had paid horribly.