“I need time, Seth.”
He stared at her for a moment and then nodded, placing his cup and saucer on the table. “I will give you that.” He stood. “I hope that you give us the opportunity to be friends again.”
Is that all he wanted? If so, could she simply be his friend when she had been so deeply in love with him? No doubt he likely had dozens of friends, whereas she had few. Except, the ones that she did have she fully trusted…or had until they decided to play matchmaker.
“Not just friends,” he offered quietly. “As I said, Franny, I was mistaken and I hope that I can earn your forgiveness.”
“To what purpose?”
“Why does any gentleman wish to call on a beautiful woman?” he asked with a smile.
“I would already know the answer if it was anyone other than you.”
He winced again, but one of the lessons learned with Seth was not to assume anything.
“I have changed, Franny,” he said again. “I have missed you and need you by my side. I hadn’t realized that you were the very thing missing from my life until I saw you sitting across the theatre.”
“You wish to court me?” she asked because Frances needed that clarification.
“Yes.”
Courtship usually led to marriage, the very thing she had hoped for five years ago. Did she dare risk her heart again?
“I will give it consideration,” she finally said.
He nodded one last time and then finally left.
With a sigh, Frances leaned back.
What to do about Seth?
Before that horrible day, he had been the most important person in her life.
Which was the truth? The ten years they were friends or the words he said the day he left her alone in the cottage to return to London.
Both, she answered herself.
Frances wanted to hate and resent Seth, which had been easy until she saw him again. Then they had danced and she looked into his eyes and all those former emotions came rushing forward.
What if after he had courted her, Seth decided that they wouldn’t suit after all, would she be heartbroken all over again?
Could she survive it a second time?
Maybe she should not even risk it.
Frances already knew what was important to Seth. He had wanted to earn his fortune, his own gaming establishment. Those had been the two things more important than her.
He had also vowed never to wed, so why would he want to court her now?
What did he really want from her? How did he see them in the future?
How much could she really trust him?
She couldn’t.
Frances would never be able to trust him again, which meant that there was no future, therefore, she needed to discourage him.
Oh, she also wanted him to court her but was afraid of what would happen.
