““You’re avoiding me.” His rich voice drew her closer, while the jest in his words tied her lips into a grin she attempted to crush. “I am not.” “You are.” “I will neither confirm nor deny any such thing.” She lifted her chin and tried not to laugh as she knit her fingers behind her back, avoiding his gaze. If she allowed herself to reveal the emotions that hid behind her threadbare curtain of strength, she might never recover. He toyed with the lock of hair at her neck. His fingers tickled her skin and all she wanted to do was collapse against him and lose herself in his warm embrace. “Kitty,” he said, “I hardly know what to say. ‘Tis clear that I’m the chief of fools. If you never forgive me, I will understand, though I will pray for your forgiveness every day for the rest of my life.” His””
