- Caroline sighed contently, basking in the moment. If anyone - more notably, her mother or Lawrence - were to see them as they were, she would certainly never hear the end of it, but the threat did not worry her, and she did not move away. She had almost lost him, her dear friend, a man she felt more for than she liked to admit. She opened her eyes at his touch, tilting her head ever so slightly so that she could more comfortably catch his eye. She smiled softly, and nodded; she knew he meant his promise, that he would not be leaving her anytime soon. Unwilling to break contact, she closed her eyes again, lost in her the moment, and in her thoughts. His touch was so soft, so gentle...Far more gentle than she imagined Lawrence's could ever be. It might have been wrong of her, to think such a thing, but she simply didn't care.
They lapsed into a short, comfortable silence, but when he spoke again, she opened her eyes to look at him. She smiled, glad to hear he would write to her, and she nodded subtly once more. "Of course. I promise." She spoke softly, as if afraid speaking to loudly might break the moment. And she meant it; she would visit him, and soon. Even if she had to sneak out in the dead of night, she would see him again.
All to soon, the doctors were ready to leave, and her gaze trailed off to watch them, brow furrowed delicately. Thorne's next action was so quick, so surprising, that she almost missed it; he leaned forward to press a kiss to her hair. She blushed, warmth pooling in the pit of her stomach, but didn't get a chance to say anything, as the doctors were quickly at Thorne's side, helping him up. She released him reluctantly, dropping her hands to rest limply in her lap. She did not move from her spot as she watched them load him into the carriage, laughing softly as he adamantly insisted on sticking his head out before they could confine him.
"I promise."
