Chapter Thirty-Five:

Jekyll…

Jekyll had been working closely with Mrs. Harker for the past months and he found more than he searched for. He found that his attraction to her had been fuelled by this close association. He found he had difficulty keeping his mind on his work with her there. But he needed to focus. And the only way to do that would be to tell her.

The day she had gone to Kathryn to speak on the matter of their studies, he decided he would tell her. When she returned, carrying three pages of Kathryn's neat handwriting, he said, "I need to tell you something."

She looked up from the page she was reading. "And I have something to confess to you," she said. "But you first."

"No," he answered. "By all means. Ladies first."

She bit her lower lip. "Well, how many words can you say it in?" she asked.

"Three."

Her eyes lit up. "I can, too," she said. "This may sound childish, but let's say what we have to say together."

Jekyll nodded. Then they both a breath and said, "I love you."

She blushed and looked at her feet. "You do?" she asked softly.

She reminded Jekyll strongly of a young lady being told she was beautiful for the first time. He stood and walked over to her. "I have since we first met," he replied.

"As I have," she said. "It just took me a while to realise it." She looked up into his eyes and kissed him.