Read The Spy Who Loved Her: Once Upon an Accident, Book 3 for Free Online Page B

staring at her. She could not help the feeling that he was measuring her in some way. She had to fight the need to fidget. She opened her mouth to ask him if something was wrong, but he seemed to shake himself out of his stupor.
    “Yes, I apologize for not making an appointment.”
    She laughed as she waved to one of the two chairs in front of the desk. “Making an appointment is unnecessary for you. Please, have a seat.” She walked around her desk, trying to put the massive wood barrier between them. Her pulse had tripled and she felt another rush of heat fill her face. Oh, to not be so fair that her blushes showed.
    “You will find that we are not very formal here.”
    Once they had both settled, he stared at her again. Her whole body heated as he continued studying her. She had to resist the urge to check her appearance. Instead, she clasped her hands on the desk in front of her.
    “Was there something you wanted?”
    That seemed to pull him out his stupor. “Yes. I was just by your house.”
    Alarm lit through her. “Everyone is all right?”
    “Oh, yes, I apologize for alarming you. I thought it best to take this up with Sebastian first.”
    She frowned. “What did you need to take up with Sebastian?”
    “Your work here.”
    That caught her off-guard. “My work?”
    He hesitated. “I had no idea that you came down here on a regular basis.”
    “And?” she asked when he said nothing else.
    “It is not proper.”
    For a moment, her brain could not seem to work out what he said. Then, when she did, she laughed.
    He frowned. “I am serious.”
    “Yes. I can tell you are serious, that is why I am laughing.”
    “One might get the wrong idea about a woman who spends so much time in White Chapel.”
    His implication hit her square in the chest and her laughter died. Of all the nerve . She wanted to pick up a pencil and hit him square in the forehead with it. But she resisted…barely. It was what the old Anna would do. Instead, she counted backward from ten, curled her fingers into the palm of her hand and moderated her speech.
    “I think you might want to rethink your comments.”
    At her tone, he narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think it is right.”
    She could feel her spine straightening, her temper boiling. “I did not ask. Nor do I care what you say.”
    Surprise passed over his expression.
    “And furthermore, I take exception at the idea you felt you needed to discuss this with my brother. Considering both of your behavior for years, I hardly think either of you have the right to even think of saying anything to me.”
    Frustration dripped off him as he rose and paced to the window. “You do not understand the dangers here.”
    “Do I not?”
    He looked at her but she was not in any mood to hear his thoughts on the subject. She allowed some of her temper to show when she continued. “I have worked here for the last two and a half years. I know exactly what goes on around here. How can I not?”
    “A woman of your class should not be exposed to it.”
    She let out a snort. “How pompous you sound. I would have never thought this of you. I have never known you to be so snobbish.”
    “I understand your need to work with charities, but I think you take this a step too far.”
    The anger that had been simmering exploded into fury. But she would not show it to him, not to any man. She would not lose her composure in front of him. She had worked very hard to learn to moderate her actions and her emotions.
    “I am not the type of woman who is going to sit home and give money to make myself feel better. My mother did not raise me that way. And for your comments about the area, I know what goes on here. Everyone who has spent time in London knows. What makes me different is that I do not turn a blind eye to it. I know that whores work the streets and that children are often preyed upon. That is nothing new. But I cannot live with myself if I do nothing to help.”
    He studied her for a moment and she