Congratulations? That was all he had to say on the matter? Incredulous surprise welled up inside Caroline and a disappointment that she didn't dare examine now. Had she been so wrong to believe his intentions to be more then merited merely a congratulations as if all they had shared had been a few merry conversations and a dance or two? Caroline was so taken aback that she had for a moment forgotten to mask the confusion of emotions that surely fled across her face.

It was beginning to be clear that her expectations on the part of Mr. Darrow were entirely on her side. She should brush the issue off and joke about it as if she held the lightest of souls, but she couldn't. Not with Mr. Darrow. Mr. Darrow who had seen her deepest fears and not turned from her. Mr. Darrow who had written her letters for months and had been attentive at every event she had seen him at. No. She owed him some element truth, after all truth had started this, it ought to end that way as well.

Summoning up her strength she gave him a small smile, one that wavered upon her lips like the gentle waves against the hull of a ship. "I'm not sure." She certainly didn't feel as if congratulations ought to be in order.

There was something in the repetition of sorry that Caroline felt was far from a nicety and she looked at him closer. Would he truly be sorry to see her go?

Silence stretched between them until Caroline wondered if again she had been foolish enough to image something. When finally he spoke and she found herself completely confused with what he might be feeling. If he thought this the end then perhaps there was no time like the present to find out what he had thought.

"I shall be sorry as well." She admitted candidly though failing to mention that the gentleman in question was indeed British. Even if she were to stay in the country it would not be the same. She would never again be as free as she was in this moment.

"It sounds as if they have only just begun discussing the matter." There was still hope for her, perhaps Mr. Darrow did not see that, perhaps this was why he seemed to fluxulate between uncaring platitudes and true sentiments. "I can not help but hope it goes no further." The truth slipped through her lips as she looked up at Mr. Darrow from beneath her lashes, hoping that if he had not seen her interest before he might now. Better to be turned down now then to be lost in the sea of regret and confusion.