“You kissed me out of pity?” She looked torn between hurt and anger.
He hesitated, but only a moment. “Yes.”
Horatia’s voice shook and her eyes darkened with tears. “Pl…please leave.”
“Happily.” He left her room, slamming the door.
Can’t that man ever shut my door normally?
Horatia buried her face in her pillows and took several deep breaths, but it did no good. She fought the urge to cry, but tears still ran down her cheeks. It was then that Mittens sauntered out from under the bed, jumped up and nestled against Horatia’s stomach, purring.
There was something comforting about the animal’s unconditional love. Only after stroking the cat’s satiny fur did she finally calm down, but it was a long while before she could look rationally at the problem.
Over the years she’d heard whispers
