She looked up at him with raw vulnerability visible in her eyes, as if she hoped that he could give her all the answers; at the same time, they both knew he couldn’t. But there was something he knew he could say, something he needed to say, one of the main things he’d come here tonight to say. “Amala, those are the things we need to talk about. I think we need to listen to our hearts enough to at least . . . give the matter some time . . . talk through the things we’re feeling . . . and the things we’re afraid of. I don’t think I can go on with my life and have any peace if I don’t know that I’ve done everything I could to be absolutely certain—one way or the other. That’s all I’m asking, Amala. Please . . . don’t turn me away without . . . giving yourself time . . . to at least consider the possibility. You’ve spent years convincing yourself you could never marry or have children. Surely we can take some weeks—or even months—to consider the alternative.”

Henry could see in her eyes that her thoughts were racing; he could well imagine the internal argument taking place. But he kept his gaze firmly connected to hers, as if that in itself might keep her from saying no.

“I have one condition,” she said, and a little burst of laughter came out of his mouth. His relief was so overwhelming he almost felt a little dizzy himself.

“Anything!” he said, fearing even as he said the word that he might regret doing so.

“I don’t want anyone to know,” she said.

“What?” he asked, not because he hadn’t heard her, but because her condition was so contrary to his own vision of courting her and spending as much time with her as he possibly could. He’d only spent one afternoon in her family’s home, and they already felt more like family to him than anyone ever had. How could they possibly keep anyone from knowing how they felt about each other?

“Until we both agree that moving forward in life together is the right thing, I need all of this to remain a secret.”

“Why?” he asked, still holding tightly to her arms. “Explain to me how that’s possible and give me a reason that I can live with.”