<span style="color: #80BFBF">It was Felix's turn to look at Ellinor with surprise, his gaze traded between her hand and her face. He felt a tug of attraction then, most of his worries melted away as he grew to find this woman before him a very strong and compassionate person, if not a very lonely woman who deserved more care and love in her life. <br/><br/>A chuckle escaped him, the sound deep but light in nature, like trickling water as snow thaws in the spring. He wasn't used to losing an argument, especially with a woman. "<span style="font-style: italic">This is not a question</span>," he echoed her words, liking the sound of her standing firm against what seemed to bear rather heavily around her. Slowly he raised his gaze to bore into hers, gently took her hand and raised it to meet his lips where he brushed a soft kiss on her knuckle. "Very well, I shall follow you. Besides, I find it rather difficult for me to ever desire arguing with you any further."<br/><br/>He released her hand just as carefully, all the while he struggled to maintain composure. "We should hurry," he added and glanced around if only to avoid her gaze. Thoughts of his actions finally caught up to him and therefore made him feel embarrassed and worried. "I don't mean to worry my servants if I were to stay out late after dark. And you have been out in the cold for far too long."<br/><br/>There was no other explanation to the sign of small affection other than the fact that Ellinor has been most kind in contrast to many of the people in the small town. Whether he did it out of a sign of respect or sign of love, Felix was too afraid to figure out the answer. It would only encourage him to be rash and consider making another move towards her or she might misunderstand him to be a womanizer if she were to find out about his announcement to the town about desiring a wife. No, he will have to keep control and keep a more careful distance from now on.</span>