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Iam Clara Hatfield.

How Clara wished to correct Mr. Cole aloud.

“I’m afraid I shall disappoint you with my answer,” she said instead.

“Impossible.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, because I plan to never marry.”

Mr. Cole did, indeed, pull back in surprise. “Never?”

“Never.”

He hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Is...is this because of the man who forced his kiss upon you?”

“No, I decided long before that. After my mother remarried a man who changed for the worse, I decided it wasn’t worth the risk of falling in love—only to be deceived. It is safer to be alone.”

Mr. Cole still appeared to be coming to terms with her decision. “I know many maids face the same future, but how will you afford such a living? When you are too old to work?”

Clara was treading on dangerous ground. She did not wish to lie to Mr. Cole after how honest he’d been with her, so she carefully chose her words. “I will work until I have the money that will suffice living out the rest of my days comfortably with my mother.”

“And you’ll receive that on servants’ wages?” he asked, clearly attempting to hide his doubt.

Clara shrugged. “I will simply have to wait and see.”

Mr. Cole narrowed his eyes, clearly sensing she was hinting at something else, but she could not open up further.

She knew their conversation must have been going on for some time now, and yet, she still did not wish to leave. Speaking as herself, not having to hide from Miss Bowles or Mrs. Wintle or any of the other servants or guests, had been liberating.

But she knew she was pushing her luck. She motioned over her shoulder to down the stairs. “I thought you were hungry.”

He followed her gaze. “I was.”

“You are not any longer?”

“I’m enjoying our conversation too greatly to end it prematurely.”

She felt the same way, and yet...“Perhaps we ought to quit while we are ahead, though,” she said. “While we have not yet been discovered.”

“That would be the wisest.”

Still, neither of them moved. Their eyes connected in the candlelight, the shadows of their profiles impressed upon the wall opposite them, closer together than their physical bodies.

Clara was envious of the imprints. They seemed carefree. As they should. Nothing could hurt the shadows.

But Clara could be hurt.

“Why do you frown?” Mr. Cole asked softly, his eyes sweeping across her brow.

She hadn’t realized she had been. “I was merely wondering why you pursued me after I rejected you. You appeared to single me out, despite my best attempts to be rid of you.”

He lowered his gaze, ducking his head like a child caught stealing a mince pie. “I wanted to seek revenge for you making me feel the way I did. As childish as that is.”

“I am sorry I ruined your life by speaking the truth.”

He gave a soft laugh at her half-apology. “Of course you ought not apologize. You’ve made me realize things I should’ve been made aware of long ago.”

“May I ask another question of you, Mr. Cole?”