Alfred's face lit up at her confession — though how much of a confession was it, when they had just agreed to marry each other or even elope together, if it came down to it? They had been orbiting each other for actual years, at this point, getting gradually closer to each other in a way that, in retrospect, seemed inevitable. Still, it hadn't yet been said, and what better place to say it?

"I love you, too," he answered, without hesitation. He might not have thought to say it himself for weeks or months to come, but as soon as she'd verbalized it he felt the sentiment echo back within him. He was smiling, and felt as though he might never stop — so to remedy that he leaned in and kissed her again.