There was a brilliant, cheerful smile on her lips at his hug and whispered words as she listened, a blush along her cheeks even before the kiss. There was a brief shake of her head at the mention of apology but she had focused on listening, the light shade of a blush growing with his praise for a moment. The kiss had her practically molding her body against his own for a moment, one arm around him another hand raised to the back of his head as she kissed him back. The moment one she was reluctant to part from, but did just as he released her as well.<br/><br/><strong>"It is not that you or anyone else here had done something to suggest I should be leaving, but my own concern for your house. I have already stayed a fair while and would gladly stay longer yet. I merely hope that my presence does not cause undue harm to you nor your family."</strong>She hugged him closely but let out a warm sigh.<strong>"As for what my father... what the Duke may feel, I believe he would be happy I've been so welcome, and given his nature, I imagine as long as we were, ah, keeping it discrete, he would be more concerned that we are happy than that we may yet create a scandal."</strong>She smiled a bit red faced yet.<strong>"I am honored you think so highly of me, and I cherish your company as well. I hope to stay many a year to come still, and truly become part of the family if not perhaps in the eyes of laws and traditions then at least in the halls of the House. We can see about it as years and seasons change."</strong><br/><br/>Holding onto one of his hands and squeezing it in her own firmly, she gazed at his face quietly while leaning lightly against him.