Shawn's gaze shifted from hers and moved to focus on the window and beyond. There wasn't much to be seen, not with the remnants of fog from the morning still lingering but it wouldn't last much longer. He could already see broken areas giving a glimpse of the outside world here and there. It gave him something to focus on as he fought the storm of emotions and concerns in his mind.
Her single word answer struck him hard in the chest. If he left, if he stopped speaking with her, he wouldn't be any better than those who had written her off. And though it wasn't that he wanted to cut ties, it was that he should. She already struggled enough in the eyes of society, they'd already made a mockery of her he was sure. Being tied to him, well, it would likely only get worse. He was an American. A middle class merchant, perhaps wealthy enough in time to move up, but that was mostly at the hands of his family. Not him.
No, Shawn Delaney was a sailor at best. At least, that's what he was deep down. He was used to life at sea, almost as if the salt water ran through his very veins. She was anything but the sort. And should things work, should things even have a chance to progress into something more, he couldn't take her from the comfortable life she had and he couldn't very well spend forever on land. But he couldn't deny the desire and want to remain by her for a time just to see. Perhaps a shattered heart wasn't the end of the world.
Looking back to her, eyes still stormy with questions and a mixture of concern and worry creased over his features, he took a small step in her direction. "Do you want me to stay?" he asked, bluntly and mostly theoretically. It wasn't as if he could physically stay there, not for too long of a time at least but he had a feel she'd understand what his words actually meant.
Her single word answer struck him hard in the chest. If he left, if he stopped speaking with her, he wouldn't be any better than those who had written her off. And though it wasn't that he wanted to cut ties, it was that he should. She already struggled enough in the eyes of society, they'd already made a mockery of her he was sure. Being tied to him, well, it would likely only get worse. He was an American. A middle class merchant, perhaps wealthy enough in time to move up, but that was mostly at the hands of his family. Not him.
No, Shawn Delaney was a sailor at best. At least, that's what he was deep down. He was used to life at sea, almost as if the salt water ran through his very veins. She was anything but the sort. And should things work, should things even have a chance to progress into something more, he couldn't take her from the comfortable life she had and he couldn't very well spend forever on land. But he couldn't deny the desire and want to remain by her for a time just to see. Perhaps a shattered heart wasn't the end of the world.
Looking back to her, eyes still stormy with questions and a mixture of concern and worry creased over his features, he took a small step in her direction. "Do you want me to stay?" he asked, bluntly and mostly theoretically. It wasn't as if he could physically stay there, not for too long of a time at least but he had a feel she'd understand what his words actually meant.