James didn't know how to refuse her without hurting her feelings, but he doubted being polite would help in his case right now. He had been polite to her, but that was all, there was no other meaning to it, "You are a good woman, Miss Barnes-"
"Why are you calling me 'Miss Barnes?" she asked sadly, "Why are you doing this? Stop joking-"
"I am not joking," came the curt reply from James, "I never held such feelings towards you, nor did I have any intention when I accompanied you. I did it out of politeness and nothing more to it. Please do not search for more meaning in my actions when it comes to you."
Catherine shook her head, "No," she whispered, and her words turned louder than a whisper, "No, you can't do that. Every time the matter was remotely brought up in public, you haven't refused it. Why didn't you refuse it?"
