“Oh.” Faith opened her mouth to say more, but words failed her. What could she say? Everything he said was true. He had proven it, only moments ago, when he kissed her and made her forget everything except the feel of his mouth on hers. She walked to the chair, sat down, and covered her red face with shaking hands.
He moved away from her chair and began to pace the room once more. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. The difference in the wording of the ad in the Richmond paper was a mistake. I didn’t know about it until you showed me your copy, but I could tell from our conversation you had a mistaken notion about the job. Hell!” He realized he’d spent the past minute explaining to her. “How was I supposed to know you didn’t know? All the others knew.”
“You mean all those women in line knew you wanted one of them to have a baby for you?” Faith was shocked. “For money?”
“Of course they knew. It was in the ad. And it’s not completely unheard of. There are references to such contracts in the Bible.”
“That doesn’t excuse you.”
“I’m not asking to be excused. I know what I’m doing and I have my reasons for doing it this way,” Reese told her.
“But to buy a baby…” Faith stood up and walked around Reese and stared out the window to the street below.
“I’m not buying a baby,” he said, “I’m renting a woman. The same way I would pay someone to clean my house or cook my dinner or—”
“Tend to your other needs?” Faith asked sweetly, suddenly flushed and as angry as he was.
“Exactly,” Reese told her. “When you pay for something, you can make sure you get what you want out of the deal. Believe me, honey, if I could do this by myself, I would. I don’t like being dependent on anyone for anything, but unfortunately, this is something I can’t do alone. I don’t have a choice.”
“Surely, you have lady friends,” Faith suggested. “You did say you excelled in seduction. Surely, there is a lady or two who would be more than happy to—”
“I don’t sleep with ladies.”
“Really?” Faith spat the question at him. “Then I don’t think we have a problem.”
“Oh, I’m willing to make an exception in your case.” He hadn’t meant to say that. “For business purposes.”
“I see.” Faith’s cheeks stained with color. “I had no idea I was so irresistible.”
“Look, lady”— Reese emphasized the courtesy title—“this deal will benefit both of us. You need money. A southern lady wouldn’t dream of leaving her home to become a governess, unless the job paid well. Very well. And I don’t know a southern family who doesn’t need money.”
“I have my reasons for applying for this job.” Faith looked him in the eye, daring him to question her.
“Then let’s leave it at that. You have your reasons and I have mine.” Reese met her gaze. “It’s only business.”
“I’m not even sure I like you,” Faith told him honestly.
Reese smiled once again, a real smile this time, one that reached his eyes. “You don’t have to like a man to do business with them.”
“This is rather intimate business.”
“All the better. There will be no emotional ties, no entanglements. Nothing permanent. I hire you to do the job, and once it’s done you never have to see me again. And because you’ll be in Wyoming, no one in Richmond will ever have to know. But you’ll be thousands of dollars richer.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“Fair enough. But don’t take too long. I’m rather pressed for time. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get it over with.”
“How much time do I have?”
“I can spare a few days,” Reese grudgingly admitted. “Go home for Christmas. Think about it. You can wire me your answer after the holiday.” Reese walked to the bedroom door and opened it. “I’ll have David escort you to Richmond.”
Faith nodded in acknowledgment as he disappeared through the doorway. She didn’t understand how it had happened, but suddenly, she was thinking about accepting his bizarre offer. She told herself it was the money. She desperately needed the money.
Faith knew she shouldn’t consider taking the job, for money, for her ladies, or for any other reason, but she was considering it. And though she hated to admit it, even to herself, only part of the reason was money.
Chapter Six
“Are we approaching Richmond already?” David looked up from the stack of paperwork in his lap and spoke to Faith for the first time since they’d boarded the train.