‘Conniston? Is something wrong?’
He could not speak.
‘Conniston?’ Alarm showed on her face. ‘Is it Amabelle? Has something happened to her?’ She pushed the covers aside. A foot reached for the ground. ‘Tell me quickly.’
‘No, no. Be calm.’ He held out the diary. ‘It’s this.’
Rowena gasped in horror. She whipped her foot out of sight. Eyes fixed on the diary, she dragged the covers back up, almost cowering behind them. Her face turned as pale as the linen. ‘How did you come by that?’ she whispered.
‘Not by any underhand means, I assure you. I found it in my library.’
Her head rose. They stared at each other.
‘Amabelle,’ Rowena said at last. ‘She must have done it.’
Conniston took a step forward. ‘I . . .’ Words failed him. Even in the dim light he could see colour flood back into Rowena’s face.
‘You haven’t . . . read any of it, have you?’
‘Your sister had marked some passages.’ He stepped forward another pace. ‘I must ask you, ma’am, is this . . . is . . .’ He drew a long breath. The long muscle down his jaw flickered. ‘I must ask you. Have your views changed?’
Rowena pressed her hands to her face. ‘I beg you, sir, do not press me. Those words were my most private confession. You do me no honour to fling them at me now.’
‘Please Rowena.’ In seconds he had reached the bed to look down at the bowed head and pale hands covering her face. ‘Please, ma’am, allow me to hope they have not changed.’
Rowena raised her head, her fingers sliding down over eyes and cheeks. ‘To hope?’ she whispered.
‘To hope,’ he repeated.
Their eyes met. Unspoken confessions passed between them.
Rowena reached out her hand.
He took it.
The diary slid, unnoticed to the floor.
THE END
Rowena (Regency Belles Series Book 1) Page 30