A quarter of a million pounds. No man needed it more. And no man was less entitled to take it.
Perhaps one day, when there could be total truth between them. But he must tell her that truth carefully. Instinct told him that this was not the moment to blurt it out. She might not even believe him.
“Let us not hurry with this decision,” he said at last. “You honour me by suggesting it, but –”
“But you do not wish to,” she answered in a shaking voice.
“Listen to me –”
“You do not need to say anything,” she said hurriedly. “You are very kind but I should never have – it was wrong of me.”
“No, it wasn’t –”
“Please, say no more. Forget I ever – excuse me.”
Avoiding his outstretched hand, she darted from the room. John was left clutching his hair and cursing himself for being so clumsy.
B
