Chapter Fifteen

L ord Tobias Moran

I threaded my fingers into my hair and stared at the manuscript on my desk. Eight days had passed since my night with Ash. The passions we shared had only temporarily slaked my physical hunger. He’d found another lead in his case and was noticeably absent. Time sped past for me as well. The end of the year was my busiest time, and I was rushing from appointment to appointment.

Mrs. Worth proved invaluable by taking care of the office while I was out. Every time I returned to the office between engagements, I looked forward to seeing her—a dangerous precedent. The steady click of the typewriter keys from her office set a comforting cadence. She was an efficient typist, unlike my previous secretary. Yet I was so far behind I wasn’t sure if I would be even fifty percent caught up by the time the author interviews began. With my mainstream books, I hired a typesetter at a local bookbinding shop to produce one serial per quarter per author. Then, like with the Ambrosia line, the first three serials of each individual's works were bound into a sixpence novel.

Perhaps she was right. I needed to hire somebody. Or perhaps I just needed to go to the reception area to find my new editor.

It had been my experience that secretaries were hard to come by, and if I truly was serious and took her advice, I would hire an outside editor with knowhow. I hated the thought of giving up any control, but my Ambrosia line was taking up most of my time, and the rest of my authors were being ignored.

A hint of dread hit me, and I willed myself to breathe. I had wrestled MH Roth—a well-known gothic author—away from her previous publisher because of creative differences. A silent partner, her residuals from her works had put the T.J. Moran Publishing House on the map. I owed her my undivided attention, but I also owed it to Mr. Lillian, another prolific writer with a massive following in my Ambrosia line. Ash had also contributed and if he was of a mind, could easily be a successful writer. Yet his family obligations kept him on the force.

I sat back in the seat, nearly fell over, and grabbed the edge of my desk. In addition to obsessing over Mrs. Worth, I had been waging a battle with my chair. When I purchased it, it seemed comfortable enough. However, it had a mind of its own, and I kept expecting it to tip over, taking me with it.

Perhaps it would knock some sense into me.

I tapped my pen on the ink blotter and stared at the pile. I had edited everything on my desk. But MH Roth’s manuscripts were very clean and would only require a copy edit to check grammar and punctuation, something Mrs. Worth excelled at. Or so she claimed. I had no reason to think otherwise. The sound of the typewriter ended, the silence in its wake deafening. Either I could persevere or ask for help.

Everything inside me screamed no at the prospect of admitting I needed assistance, especially after having made such a big deal out of not needing any help. I scratched at the underside of my chin and closed my eyes.

A knock sounded at the door, causing me to jump and nearly unseating myself. I planted my feet and tried to tamp down the excitement I felt whenever she entered the room. I needed to stop obsessing over my attraction to her. She wouldn’t welcome it by her own admission. “Come in.”

She entered with a stack of paper in her hand. The navy dress enhanced her small waist, and a healthy color brightened her face. “I have finished the invitation letters that you asked me to draft. If you would read over them and sign them, I will post them forthwith.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Worth.” I took the letters and skimmed the carbon copied page, which was free of typos. Pleased by her efficiency, I lifted my pen and began to sign all seven of them. Standing, I handed them to her before I walked into the reception area, trying my best not to inhale the citrus perfume she favored. “I would like to see MH Roth’s manuscript. Can you pull the file for me?”

“Of course.” She laid the signed letters on her desk and went to the filing cabinet. She had a definite swing to her hips, and if I were courting her, I would slip behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.

I wiped my damp hands down my trouser legs, trying to make my mind behave itself. This was getting to be ridiculous. The office seemed stuffy and I pulled at my tight collar. After Ash and I had relations, he stayed the night. I had woken relaxed for the first time since Elizabeth married the colonel.

For a while, I had forgotten about Mrs. Worth and lost myself in physical pleasure. The tension returned with a vengeance. Instead of promoting her, perhaps I should give her her papers and let her be on her way. Except she had five sisters to support, and the fact that I couldn’t control my own lustful thoughts wasn’t her problem but mine.

She pulled the bound papers out of the cabinet, smiling at me. My pulse hummed harder, and I averted my gaze to the papers she held. Unfortunately, she held them to her chest, which drew my attention to her plump bosom.

“Here it is. I have to admit I am most anxious for this publication. I’ve read all of her works, and she is an excellent writer,” she said.

Business. Focus on business. “I think so too. I stole her away from a large publishing house. Her husband also writes but is not nearly as famous as she is. You’ll get to meet Mary when she arrives. She currently lives in France with her husband, but she is coming to London to discuss her book. Writing is her passion.”

“Indeed, her words and images jump off the page.” Mrs. Worth beamed, holding the manuscript to her chest like it was the greatest gift anyone had given her. I was about to give her an even bigger reward. She went to hand me the manuscript, and I shook my head.

“I have a task for you. Sit, and I’ll explain.” At her frown, I continued, “I need a break from my office. Why don’t you sit down and let me explain what I need from you.”

I cursed my choice of words. Everything around Mrs. Worth seemed to be steeped in innuendo. Life was so much simpler when Ash and I simply had relations whenever we needed physical satisfaction. Things had changed. I had changed.

She resumed her seat and placed the manuscript on top of the desk. Curious eyes met mine. The haunted look she carried when I first interviewed her had disappeared.

“You will never hear me repeat this. But you were right.” I couldn’t keep the sheepish smile from spreading across my lips. From what I had gathered from Ash’s comments, she had a lot of responsibilities with taking care of her sisters and working for me. I could only guess her husband hadn’t left her with any assets and she was forced to make it on her own.

“I am right about many things, Mr. Moran. Can you be more specific?”

“You really are a cheeky bird, aren’t you?” Mrs. Worth had a way of making me smile when I didn’t want to. In many ways, she was much like Ash. I rested my hip on her desk.

“Indeed, my family calls me Birdie.” With a slight blush, she straightened in her seat. “It is a silly name, really.”

“But fitting. You seem to have boundless energy, always flitting about.” It was rather endearing, and the more I got to know her, the more I recognized it as pent-up energy. Mrs. Worth was not used to being idle.

“You have only known me for a week. How can you make that decision already?” She angled her neck, her lovely brow lifted. With creamy skin and a smattering of freckles across her nose, she was unquestionably comely.

“Call it intuition. However, I did not come here to discuss your constant need to prove me wrong.” I crossed my arms over my chest and tried not to be charmed by her. She was supposed to be working for me, not be my love interest. Yet I couldn’t help but flirt with her. “Do you know what a copy edit is?”

She nodded with eagerness. “A copy edit focuses on spelling, punctuation, and my favorite, grammar.”

“Very good. I want you to copy edit this manuscript.” I tapped my fingers against the pages on her desk.

Her mouth dropped open, eyes widening before joy brightened her entire face. “You want me to copy edit MH Roth? The MH Roth?”

Her pleasure was a sight to behold. I tried to keep myself on track and stay professional, but it was hard not to respond to her overt delight. “That is precisely what I want you to do. She writes rather cleanly, so the task won’t be daunting for your first attempt at copy editing. There are specific symbols used when editing. I will provide you with an editing key and a red pencil.”

“I shall fetch one forthwith.” Her voice took on a husky tone, her green gaze bright.

“I would suggest you mail those letters first.” Mrs. Worth’s happiness cut into my very core, and I found it hard not to reach out and stroke her cheek.

“Yes, Mr. Moran,” she said on a laugh, her exuberance contagious.

Pleased by her enthusiasm, I returned to my office, the muscles in my back pinching from sitting too long. Instead of resuming my seat, I moved to the window and looked outside. The streets were bustling, a dusting of snow on the ground. Two bobbies moved into my line of sight.

Up until last year, I had often seen Ash patrolling the street. Now that he had been promoted, he worked odd hours. Or he was avoiding me. I had been drunk and rather insistent that he stay the night that night. We had an agreement, yet I had yielded to my weakness for him.

Rain fell, hitting the windowpane. Winter had always been hard for me. My father had died right after Christmas, and I missed him every day.

A child ran down the street, laughing as a man scooped her up. I caught my smile in the reflection of the glass. That’s what I wanted, a family to call my own.

Ash and his family became my family after my father died. I had a place to go with people who loved me. My uncle Nigel and my cousin Phillip were cold calculating men without a bone of compassion between them. I was better off not having them in my life.

Mrs. Worth had a large family, all girls. Ash had spoken fondly of them. A built-in family. He and Mrs. Worth had already developed a kinship. Restlessness overcame me. I went to the door and opened it. Mrs. Worth looked up, the curls that fell to her shoulders bouncing.

“I do not wish to be disturbed for at least an hour. I will be boxing and, well, we both know what happened the last time.” I fought the heat rushing to my cheeks. It was my office and I had the right to do as I wished.

“I will refrain from bothering you until you say it is all right.” Her face held a pretty flush, which made me even more eager to take out my frustrations on the punching bag.

I closed the door once more before I stripped off my coat. Sparring invigorated me, and I needed to take the edge off my unrest. Would Ash try to court her even though I asked him not to? I had no business telling him or her whom they could have romantic feelings for, except the thought of them courting didn’t sit well with me. Life had taught me it wasn’t fair, and I could only wait and see what happened.