<div style="text-align: justify;">Elizabeth felt immensely relieved when Wil seemed to react well to her words. His harsh words had scared her deeply, making her feel that she had done something wrong. Just like Wil, albeit for different reasons, Elizabeth was used to high expectations and little praise. Sir Jonas expected his daughter to step in her mother’s shoes and take care of her siblings and household, and believed that excessive praise could turn her into a conceited young woman. And that Sir Jonas would not have. He wanted Elizabeth to remain modest and pure. Little did he know that, by allowing his daughter go back to Court with Sir Philip and Wylyam, he had put her in a path where she might be just the opposite. Not that she would want to do anything less than honorable with Wil. But her feelings, bottled up for so long, were just pouring out towards the young squire. Had she fallen for a man with less of a sense of honor and duty, and she might indeed find herself in a very delicate situation.<br/><br/>Sitting there, holding Wil’s hands and listening to his words, Elizabeth felt that she would have done whatever he asked of her. In her heart, right now, there was only an intense desire to ease the pain he clearly carried within him, and to make him experience a sense of happiness she felt he deserved.<br/><br/>Once she had finished speaking - and hoping that she had not made a fool of herself in front of Wylyam -, Elizabeth sat quietly near him, waiting for a response. She could feel her heartbeat in her fingertips, as it was beating so hard she feared it would jump out of her chest while she waited for his words.<br/><br/>Wylyam’s promises filled Elizabeth with a warmth she could never put in words. Thoughts of a future in which they would be man and wife also filled Elizabeth’s mind. She could see them in their own home, happy and at peace with as many children as it pleased the good Lord to send. She felt her cheeks burn when she thought about the intimate moments they would share in the future. As Wil, Elizabeth also knew very little about those moments, but she knew that they would happen one day.<br/><br/>Feeling her heart race even more, Elizabeth looked up at Wil and moved so she could lean forward. The girl could feel her lips tingling a little when she leaned in to offer them to her squire. So close… so very close… just a little more…<br/><br/>...but it was not to be. Not now. <br/><br/>Just as Elizabeth was about to offer her lips to Wil for a kiss, they happened to be interrupted. It was a welcome interruption, though, as the one interrupting them - by means of having Elizabeth turn her face away in surprise at the sound of hooves - had been Wil’s horse, who had - heaven knew how - managed to return to its master.</div>