She froze, her cogs going. In order to pull off a trip, arrangements would have to be made sonehow. She certainly would not wish to repeat history and make it seem like they were to elope. Ruth picked at ger skirt and muttered, "If only."

"Perhaps some point in the future after we have dealt with matters of propriety." He gave her a wistful look. It was odd how things could feel as though they were moving too fast and yet not fast enough. Desire and sense at war with each other as he wasn't sure if he should be grateful for the pressures of the regards of others putting a brake upon his desires.

"I wouldn't wish ta repeat history certainly... But if I did, I am glad it is ye, Edward." She curled her lips upward. Her fingers plucked some more at her skirt. "Today isn't the day fer ye asking me ma and da... It will have ta be soon but I am not ready to possibly get into a yelling match with me ma about how I don't listen." She chuckled at that.

"I can respect that, though I do hope it won't come to a yelling match."

He rather hoped that her parents would be able to see that he was going to treat her as she deserved, not as she'd been treated in the past.

"Oh, there will be one if I am guessin right. But she might not if she sees the truth. That is to say... Thank ye." She lay her head on his shoulder for the moment, sort of hugging his arm but not tightly. Simply relaxed... A lot of the tension had eased because of what they shared the night before.

"You're welcome?" He wasn't sure why she'd decided to thank him after what she said but he didn't mind. He knew there were things he'd done that were admirable by some standards even if it was just the right thing to do to his mind.

"Fer being here at all," she said. "Fer givin' me somethin better..."

"I did not give you anything Ruth. You earned it by being a compassionate and kind soul even during hard times. You worked hard to come this far, the only thing I've give you is my affection and even that you won. Do not sell yourself short."

"Aye? Ye hold affection?" She smiled at him as if he had turned on some light. "Well, I hold ye in high esteem. I know ladies don't speak of what we did last night, but... I ne'er felt the way ye made me feel last night." Her voice sort of rasped toward the end as she thought of the way she cried afterwards. Without thinking about the next thing, she bit her lower lip and went heavy lidded for a moment. Lord, they would need to tell their families.

"Of course, I thought that was obvious." His cheeks colored slightly as she teased him, a flush that turned crimson as she spoke so boldly. "I am pleased you enjoyed yourself, very pleased." He caught the way she was worrying her bottom lip and felt a similar sentiment to her own unsaid one.