Highland Heiress by Margaret Moore Page A

Moira’s face. “My lady, what—?”
    She put her fingers to his lips to silence him. Although she wore gloves, her light touch was as arousing as a caress along his naked thigh. “Please, speak quietly, Mr. McHeath,” she whispered. “If I’m going to be humble and eat a little crow, I prefer to do it with as few witnesses as possible.”
    He would have obeyed any order she gave when she looked at him like that and touched his mouth.
    â€œI have decided that I should, perhaps, be more flexible in my dealings with Sir Robert.”
    Why did she have to mention Robbie?
    â€œI’m prepared to consider settling out of court, to save all of us time and expense.”
    Of course. It was the lawsuit that brought them together, and the lawsuit, as well as his friendship with Robbie, would keep them apart, always.
    Yet he should be glad about this latest development, and not just for Robbie’s sake. His life was in Edinburgh, not here. She was a lady; he was a lawyer. Her family was rich, her father an earl; he had no family at all, or none to speak of. His parents had died when he was a clerk and no siblings had survived infancy. All his aunts or uncles were dead, and his only surviving cousin had emigrated to Canada.
    Determined to remember the differences that must keep them apart, he forced himself to think and speak like the solicitor he was. “How much are you willing to offer to settle the suit?”
    â€œWhat do you think Robbie will be willing to accept?”
    He had learned long ago that women could be as clever or good at negotiating as men, having dealt with many wives and widows of merchants who were just as canny as their husbands when it came to business transactions, and some much more so.
    Although he was well aware he had to think clearly and carefully during any negotiation, none of the other women he’d bargained with or represented had been as intriguing or interesting as Lady Moira, and he hadcertainly never kissed any of them, circumstances that were making it extremely difficult for him to keep his focus strictly on the business at hand.
    He was also well aware that it would be to his advantage to try to get her to make the first suggestion as to an amount. “Ladies first, as they say.”
    â€œI suppose I should make it clear that while I’m willing to discuss a settlement, I make no admission of guilt or misconduct on my part. As for any emotional distress, I’m quite sure I didn’t break Robbie’s heart, so any offer I make is done with the sole intention of ridding my life of him once and for all.”
    She spoke in such a calm and cool manner, he could well believe she had forgotten their kiss. Or—almost worse—that it had not been the mind-shattering, heart-stopping experience for her that it had been for him.
    â€œYou sound very certain of my friend’s feelings, or lack of them,” he noted. “You can’t see into a man’s heart, can you?”
    Or what would she see in his?
    â€œYou can’t see into his heart, either,” she returned. “I realize you’re his friend, but as a lawyer, you must also be aware that people lie.”
    She tilted her head to study him, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that she understood him, and all men, too well. “If he ever truly loved me, why does he want to hurt me now? Why not simply let us go our separate ways? After all, his reputation will recover much sooner than mine.”
    She was right, and yet he had a job to do, whether he wanted to or not. He had told Robbie he’d representhim, so represent him he must. “Do you not consider that his anger could be proof of his pain? If he cared less, it would be easier for him to let the matter drop.”
    She was clearly not at all convinced by his argument. “Then what about his actions after I told him I couldn’t and wouldn’t marry him? I have it on good authority