It made excellent sense. Very rational.

You're afraid. After all, Edmund died and abandoned you. He left you twice. You couldn't help him, though you knew him so well. What if this beautiful, damaged man abandons you too?

Gemma was afraid. She feared for them both. What would happen to him if she became too involved to be of use to him?

She flinched slightly and closed her eyes when she heard Mr. Worthington's footfalls in the hall. She must nip this mysterious, tempting bloom in the bud immediately. Furthermore, she should do it before Mr. Worthington could become any more attached to her.

When he entered the kitchen, she turned with a crisp smile. "Good morning, Mr. Worthington. I thought I'd see about making breakfast myself today." She held up her wrist to show him. "I'm ever so much better now."

She saw him stop short and despite her resolve, she ached inside to see the wary shadows settle over his dark gaze. He said nothing. Of course not. She knew that no matter what she said to him, he would take the blow as though it were no more than he deserved. God, how could she have made such a dreadful error? This unfortunate, battle-shocked man had trusted her and she had played coy little games — and that kiss!

No, it was really best not to think about that kiss.

"Yesterday was a charming holiday but there is much work to be done," she told him. Her voice sounded hideously false. She was only trying to move matters back to a more formal status, but how? What could she possibly say?

What in the world would not simply make this worse?

In his sensitive way, he saw that she was horribly uncomfortable and of course, he tried to ease her way.

"You wish to take it back. I understand."

"I — " Did she wish to take it back? Of course! Yes, definitely. Or possibly not.

She nodded. "If only that were possible." She looked down to realize that her hands were wringing tightly within her apron, causing her wrist to ache. "It was not fair of me. I indulged a silly whimsy and I fear I gave you —" false hopes? Why did that feel like a lie? In panic, she cleared her throat twice. Anything to buy time. Her mind raced ahead. "I fear I overstepped the boundaries of our relationship." Yes, that felt true. Achingly unfortunate, but true.

Mr. Worthington held completely still. "I know that I am not … not what I was. But I would never hurt you." Then his gaze dropped to her hands and the way she rubbed her wrist. "You don't believe that. I understand."

Gemma swallowed against the twisting feelings at odds inside her. No. She had taken responsibility for healing this man! It was impossible that he would be ready for any such emotional entanglement.

And he is not the only one, is he?