Against her common sense, her heart skipped a little beat, fluttering in her chest as he stepped closer. It was hard to miss the downward flicker of his eyes, but she appreciated the restraint he showed. She was far too willing, she realized, to cross every line with him, but now was not a good time. It would take a great deal of self-control from here on out on her part (and she thought maybe at least a little on his) to keep things appropriate.

Smiling more earnestly now, especially in response to that handsome grin of his, she was pleased he would at least agree to call her Torie from here on out. She returned the squeeze of his hands with her own, letting the relief settle over her more completely. "Are you in London, then?" Torie couldn't help but to listen for information about him these last few, long months. It hadn't been much, only that he'd fled back to his vineyards, citing work as the answer, but she had wondered the whole time if it had been partly because of New Years. She didn't much care for the why of it now, putting it in the past was in her best interest, but she was just a little curious.

Either way, "You'll have to stop by and speak to Father, but I do not foresee any issues with it." It was long past time for any of the three of them to be courting, so Torie was hoping that even as the youngest, that she would be granted this so that at least one of them could start making their way from the nest.