Chapter 161

The moon had moved several degrees in its path across the sky while they'd been sitting there, and Hope knew she needed to get back. Something told her, once she got up, it would be weeks, maybe months again before she had the opportunity to speak to him, so she was reluctant to go. Knowing about his past didn't change a thing about how she felt. In fact, in many ways, it made her care even more for him. While she could certainly understand why he'd said he'd never marry again, Hope couldn't help but think there might be a glimmer of a chance he had feelings for her. After all, he'd shared his most intimate secrets with her. Cordia always said, "Where there's a Will, there's a way, and if you have Faith, you can always have Hope." Not for the first time in her life did Hope think her mother had named her correctly.

"I should be heading back to the Howards'," Hope said quietly, though she made no move to stand.