“Still, I -” Evander protested, the sentence sputtering out; better a time for action than to argue, lest she caught her death out here. She took the blanket and he the basket, and he had only meant to hold her hand for a moment, but it seemed - safer - to keep a grasp on her as they went, to lead the way, to be sure she did not slip on the grass.
The first building that appeared on the horizon was the Church of St. Fergus, and though it hadn’t been that far a dash, his heart was thudding heavily in his chest as they reached the hollow-side gate of the churchyard. He tugged her into the gateway, grateful for a little wooden porch over the gate that was enough shelter for them both without forcing them into the church itself.
He released her hand and set down the now-dripping basket, noting the blanket was also sopping wet before he took in the state of Caroline. He was certain he looked just as bad... not that the rain had done her any disservice.
Evander swallowed, pushing a hand through his hair as he caught his breath, his gaze affixed to her as another clap of thunder echoed. Somehow his heart was still racing, even standing still -
“Your chaperon!” He remembered suddenly, forcing his gaze from her to scan the way they’d come. Mrs. Delaney had already been wandering off at some distance, so no wonder he’d forgotten her in the moment, but still. Running off with her charge and leaving her out in a thunderstorm was certainly not the sort of thing that graced the pages of a single etiquette book. Now he probably looked a right cad. He glanced at Caroline worriedly, glad that at least with the weather in this state no one would be likely to happen upon them here, in this state. “Should I - go look for her?”
The first building that appeared on the horizon was the Church of St. Fergus, and though it hadn’t been that far a dash, his heart was thudding heavily in his chest as they reached the hollow-side gate of the churchyard. He tugged her into the gateway, grateful for a little wooden porch over the gate that was enough shelter for them both without forcing them into the church itself.
He released her hand and set down the now-dripping basket, noting the blanket was also sopping wet before he took in the state of Caroline. He was certain he looked just as bad... not that the rain had done her any disservice.
Evander swallowed, pushing a hand through his hair as he caught his breath, his gaze affixed to her as another clap of thunder echoed. Somehow his heart was still racing, even standing still -
“Your chaperon!” He remembered suddenly, forcing his gaze from her to scan the way they’d come. Mrs. Delaney had already been wandering off at some distance, so no wonder he’d forgotten her in the moment, but still. Running off with her charge and leaving her out in a thunderstorm was certainly not the sort of thing that graced the pages of a single etiquette book. Now he probably looked a right cad. He glanced at Caroline worriedly, glad that at least with the weather in this state no one would be likely to happen upon them here, in this state. “Should I - go look for her?”
