Read A High Price to Pay for Free Online

'That isn't what I want. And I can't see why you and I
    shouldn't reach some kind of bargain which would satisfy us both.' He
    paused, the blue eyes measuring her. 'As an extra incentive,' he said, 'I
    know of someone who might be interested in buying your father's
    works as a going concern, instead of letting it fall into the hands of the
    receiver.'
    'How wonderful to be able to exert such influence,' she said quietly. 'I
    only wish my future wasn't going to be part of all this wheeling and
    dealing. It tends to have an unsettling effect.'
    The dark face held impatience. 'What reassurance can I offer? If you
    want a written contract, then I'll have one drawn up. You can impose
    whatever safeguards seem good to you. A mutual guarantee, if you
    like, that we won't interfere in each other's lives.'
    'In other words, I'm not to enquire too closely into where you go, or
    what company you keep,' Alison said scornfully. 'I find that a
    revolting idea!'

    'I can't see why any extra-mural activities of mine should affect you at
    all,' he said cynically. He paused. 'Unless, of course, it's you that has
    fallen madly in love with me.'
    'Nothing,' she assured him, 'could be further from the truth.'
    'That's what I thought,' he said drily. 'So why introduce emotional
    hassle into what is purely a business arrangement? If I were offering
    you any other kind of job, you wouldn't be probing into my moral
    rectitude.'
    There was a kind of brutal truth in that, she was forced to admit.
    'At the risk of probing further,' she said, after a brief hesitation, 'I
    thought there was a lady in your life already—someone you planned
    to marry, when it was convenient…'
    'You mean when her divorce became final?' He studied Alison's
    responding flush with open mockery. 'I'm afraid you're under a
    misapprehension, my dear. And so is the lady, as I've had to make
    clear to her. She'll be far better off staying with her husband. He may
    be dull, but he stands to inherit a baronetcy.'
    Alison's eyes widened indignantly. 'Isn't that rather callous?'
    'It might be,' he agreed, 'if I'd helped to put her marriage on the rocks
    on the first place. As it happens, I didn't. Nor do I appreciate her
    throwing my name to any tame gossip columnist she had hanging
    round.' The firm mouth hardened into implacability, and in spite of
    herself, Alison shivered. 'I have no intention of being dragged into the
    Monclairs' current bout of mud-slinging, and finding myself an
    alternative bride without delay will help to snuff out any further
    speculation in that quarter.' He smiled faintly. 'As you see, the favours
    work both ways.'

    Alison ran the tip of her tongue around her drying lips, if you want
    simply to be engaged—on a temporary basis—then maybe…'
    'I don't,' he interrupted. 'I've told you my terms. I want a real
    engagement, to be followed in due course by a conventional
    wedding—although I suppose I'll have to spare you the white lace
    and orange blossom,' he added, his eyes flicking over her
    dismissively.
    'Thank you,' she said grittily. 'But I don't need to be reminded that I
    fall far short of the usual image of the radiant bride.'
    'Perhaps,' he agreed, without a single sign of repentance. 'But it wasn't
    any possible shortcomings of yours I was considering, but the fact
    that you're still mourning your father. I think, in the circumstances,
    we could be forgiven for a small quiet wedding.'
    It was all moving too far too fast, and she held up a hand. 'I—I can't
    answer you now. I must have time to think.'
    'As you wish.' He paused. 'But without wishing to exert undue
    pressure, I'd be glad to have an answer by the end of the week at the
    latest.' He produced a card from a wallet, and handed it to her. 'My
    business and private numbers,' he said. 'I'll be waiting for your call.'
    She couldn't think of anything to say in reply to this, at last managing
    a feeble 'Goodbye' as he walked towards the door.
    'Let's make it au revoir, shall we?' She