A Most Dangerous Profession(46)

I need to give her something else to focus on. Robert crossed his arms and settled into his corner. “I do hope you’re able to stay focused on our task, and won’t be reduced to tears so often.”

She stiffened. “I beg your pardon?”

“While I understand that you are upset, I hope it doesn’t infringe upon our project. Having no partner is better than having a distracted one.”

“I promise you that I will keep my emotions well in check. I usually do.”

“Sometimes . . .” He let the word trail off. “I’m sure you do the best you can.” He yawned. “I think I’ll take a nap. You should do the same.”

He could hear the anger in her silence. Her skirts rustled and she said in a flat voice, “I’m glad you can be so unconcerned that you can sleep.”

He covered his mouth and yawned again. “Oh, I’ll sleep well. Our little tryst this morning has left me a bit drained. I’m sure it made you feel the same.”

Her cheeks pinkened, but she said in a stubborn tone, “Robert, we should discuss what we’re going to do once we meet Ross’s representative. If we wish to be a believable couple, then—”

“There’s nothing to discuss. I’ll tell them I’m there to fetch the box and that I brought my wife with me, which isn’t unusual. Especially when they see that my wife is a beautiful, passionate redhead.” He reached up to tweak his curtain closed, and then tipped his hat brim over his face. “It’ll be as easy as that.”

“But we must develop a history in case there are any questions.”

“I don’t plan on offering any details to Ross, so we don’t need to discuss anything. I will do the talking, you will beam at me like a good wife, and all will be well.”

Moira stiffened. “This is not how I define partnership.”

“We’re partners, just not equal ones. Someone has to be in charge, and I’ve been very clear that it will be me.” He dropped his chin to his chest. “We only have a short while before we reach our destination. If you want a nap, you’d better take one now.”

Moira glared at him. Did he really think she would sit back and allow him to boss her around? She’d thought she’d been very clear on that. “Robert, we have to—”

He snored. And not a real snore, either, but a pretend snore. His arms remained firmly crossed over his chest, his mouth—when not snoring—was closed, and even bore a faint smile.

Her brows lifted. He’d challenged her to give her something to think about other than Rowena. She didn’t need his assistance in keeping her emotions under control; she did that very well on her own.

Her gaze narrowed at him. Yet for all of her irritation, she found herself admiring the cut of his jaw and the firm line of his mouth. A mouth that had recently driven her to distraction.

But she wasn’t here to relive their interlude this morning. She glanced down at his riding boots, then placed one of her kid boots beside his large foot.

He didn’t move, so she pressed her boot against the edge of his.

Robert shifted slightly, and slid his foot away.

Moira moved her foot against his again, and waited expectantly.

Nothing happened.

Well, that can be rectified. She lifted her foot over his and stomped.

“Ow!” He jerked upright and glared. “Blast you!”

“I wish to speak,” she said primly.

“And I wish to sleep. You should do the same.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

He sighed. “Fine. What do you want to discuss?”

“How will we present ourselves? We know Ross likes to pursue married women. Should we be one of those unconcerned sorts of couples, or would that not be enough of a challenge to him?” She tapped her finger on her knee. “We can’t be too obvious.”

Robert shrugged. “I must take his measure. Then I’ll know how to proceed, and you can follow my lead.”

“I am perfectly able to lead this scheme myself,” she said stiffly.

Robert hid his smile, glad to see her sadness replaced by firm resolution. It had been torture to see her so sad, which was only natural. Any man would be upset at seeing a beautiful woman on the verge of tears. And after all, I was once wildly in love with her.

The thought surprised him. Where did that come from? I was madly in lust, not love. It was no more than that.

She sent him a glance from under her lashes and he was instantly on his guard. “There is one thing I’ve been wondering. Something you haven’t fully explained. In the beginning, you needed a specific onyx box to free your brother from his captor. But then things changed. Somehow you discovered that there were three such boxes, and now you want them all. Why is that? What is it about these three boxes that make them so valuable?”