“Never mind what I mean. I’m not quite sure myself. I don’t care.”
He could not wait to think it out. Perhaps she had meant nothing. He said:
“You know what I am asking.”
“I don’t love you,” she said, before he could speak, “nor you me.”
She faced him suddenly.
“There’s one question I want to ask you, Nick,” she said evenly. “Whatever your answer may be it will not affect my answer. So the truth.... If I consented to be your mistress, would that be enough? Would it?”
“Good God, Margaret! what a question! No, a thousand times, no!”
“Put aside the business aspect of this marriage. Think of the personal only. What is it you want in me?”
“All of you.”
“Body and soul?”