Amala fought hard to swallow the hot, burning threat of tears in her throat. She closed her eyes and felt tears leak out, but it was only a tiny portion of the unshed ocean of tears threatening to overtake her. With all the courage and strength she could muster, she took a deep breath, drew back her shoulders, and said what she needed to say, keeping her voice too low for the vicar to hear her. “Forgive me, Henry. I now question my own foolishness in allowing this relationship to go forward at all. You were right; what you said yesterday was all true. I didn’t do it intentionally; I would never hurt you intentionally. But I know that I’ve hurt you nevertheless. I think a part of me always knew it could never be, but I was blinded by my love for you, and I wanted time with you—any time at all. I take all of the blame for any pain this has brought into your life. I can only hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me. But I would understand if you didn’t.”

Amala took another deep breath and forged ahead, fearing she’d never get another chance to say what needed to be said. “I don’t want the change between us to affect your relationship with my family. I want you to continue to be comfortable in our home. My parents love you, and I know you love them. It would break their hearts if you stopped your visits. I beg you to not add to my guilt and regret by hurting them with your absence.”

Following a stretch of silence that made it clear she had nothing more to say, Henry finally whispered, “So, that’s it. All we’ve shared has come to nothing. All we feel for each other is irrelevant.”

“Forgive me, Henry. It’s the way it has to be. One day perhaps you’ll understand that it’s better this way. The pain we’re feeling now would only be magnified in the future if we were to pursue marriage.”

“That’s what you believe,” Henry said, the bite in his voice becoming more evident. “But I believe the love we share would more than compensate for the difficulties.”

“Then it appears we have come to an impasse.”

“It appears there always was an impasse,” he whispered, sounding angry now.

Without warning, he took hold of her arm, forcing her to stand, and she had no choice but to walk with him toward the front of the chapel unless she wanted to create an unsavory scene in front of the vicar.