Page 33 (1/2)

He sighed

Henrymuch more like herself than she had at dinner It was the silence that had been so difficult Once he started talking to her, she found it was easy to respond They were back on fa one another mercilessly--and she could practically feel her h her veins

He poured a glass of brandy and held it out to her "Henry," he said He cleared his throat before continuing with, "About this afternoon"

Her hand closed so tightly around the glass she was surprised it didn't shatter She opened herto ain Finally she ain "I should never have behaved as I did I ah I behaved badly, and I apologize"

"Think nothing of it," she replied, trying very hard to sound carefree "I won't"

He frowned It certainly had been his intention to put the kiss behind hi of taking advantage of her--but he was oddly disappointed that she intended to forget about it completely "That is probably for the best" He cleared his throat yet again "I suppose"

"I say, is so with your throat? Simpy makes an excellent ho with my throat I'm just a trifle" He searched for a word "uncomfortable That is all"

"Oh" She smiled weakly It was so much easier to try to be helpful than to deal with the fact that he was so disappointed with their kiss Or maybe he had been disappointed because she had broken it off She frowned Surely he didn't think she was the sort of woht Glancing up at him nervously, she opened her mouth and her words caht It's for the best, I suppose, to forget about everything, because the thing is, I wouldn't want you to think that I well, that I m the kind of woman who--"

"I don't think that of you," he cut in, his voice oddly curt

She heaved a great sigh of relief "Oh, good I don't know really what came over me, I'm afraid"

Dunford knew exactly what had come over her, and he knew it had been entirely his fault "Henry, don't worry--"

"But I do worry! You see, I don't want this to spoil our friendship, and--We are friends, aren't we?"

"Of course" He looked affronted that she had even asked