Page 123 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

“Get some rest, my boy, and we’ll talk again tomorrow. Good day, Mrs Hunt.”

At last they were alone, and they could finish the very interesting conversation they’d been having when they were interrupted.

“Cassandra, I’d like to talk about what you said. I—”

“Not now, Jethro. Your father’s right. You should rest. We’ll talk later.”

And with that, she hurried out of the room.

Why didn’t she want to discuss her feelings? Unless…

What a fool he was. She must think her declaration of love was unwelcome.

She couldn’t be more wrong.

Jethro sped after his wife. He couldn’t wait for later to come.

He needed to talk to Cassandra right now.

Chapter 65

Cassandra hurried out of the drawing room and up the stairs, not stopping until she reached the safety of her bedchamber.

She closed the door, and leaning against it, she sunk to the floor.

How could she have been so mistaken? She must have imagined the love she’d seen in his eyes when she kissed him. Because when she told him she loved him, he had just sat there, staring at her, not saying a word.

And then he’d told her he didn’t know what to say. If he loved her, he would have known. Which could only mean one thing—he did not return her feelings.

She should have kept her embarrassing declaration of love to herself. Cassandra wanted to cry, but the tears would not fall. She had used them all up weeping when she thought he was dead.

There was a knock at the door, but she ignored it. She couldn’t face him yet. She needed time to get her emotions under control.

It came again. “Cassandra? Can I come in?”

She picked herself off the floor and sat on the bed. “If you wish.”

The door between their rooms opened and Jethro’s head appeared.

“I do wish—but I’d rather you did too.”

Jethro crept through the door and sat down on the bed next to her.

Cassandra decided she had better get her apology over with fast.

“I’m sorry,” she said, almost choking on her words. “I shouldn’t have sprung it on you like that, kissing you, and telling you I loved you. Especially not after such a traumatic day. It came as a surprise to me too, but I should have kept it to myself. I was unfairly pressuring you to—”

Jethro interrupted her by putting a finger to her lips. “I have something to say.”

The intimacy of his touch sent her pulse racing, but reason told her it was unintentional. Bombarded with doubts, she dreaded what he was going to say.

“What is it, Jethro? Tell me quickly. I’m sorry I embarrassed you with an outpouring of my feelings. It won’t happen again—”

“That would be a shame.”

His words deprived her of breath. “It would?”

Jethro nodded slowly, his gaze flitting to her mouth and then back to her eyes.