"That is precious indeed," she says quietly. "To be forgiven is all I hope for, anymore. And more precious by far than being told I did nothing wrong."

"I must tread carefully," she says. "For I hold more than just your confidences. But... I think, if you do forgive him, that there is nothing you can lose by telling him of your feelings. Not truly. Only the risk of embarrassment, weighed against the possibility of..."

Her face grows warm. "Of possibility."