"There was a man, a very wealthy, very handsome young man living on Sihnon. I was working my way up the Guild ladder, in line for Temple Priestess, a very high honor. We were introduced at a ball thrown by the Guild - it seemed his family and mine had known each other for years, though we had never met. It seemed perfect - he began as a customer, and things progressed from there. I began to care for him very deeply, in spite of the warnings from my training mistresses and close aquaintance. Soon, he proposed a union - me as his personal Companion. And I was thrilled to accept."

Inara speaks all of this very softly, still looking down at her lap. She is afraid to look at Mal, afraid to see the expression on his face.