"Grand." Bert responded simply. Moved by the emotion of the moment, he looked about him, and seeing no one about, wrapped his arms around her.

It certainly wasn't a kiss, but his embrace did much to bolster her hopes and dreams for the future between them. Ahh, she thought, at last... She hardly dared to move or breathe in that instance, her eyes fluttering closed against her will. She let him hold onto her for a moment longer than others would deem appropriate. Finally, the time came to pull away, but only just so she could look into his eyes, a smile wide across her lips, and a becoming flush in her cheeks. "Oh, Bert..." she sighed.

Bert felt her pull away. Understandable, really. He wouldn't want others to get the wrong impression. Yet she didn't seem nervous at all about the public affection.

"Delilah?" He repeated her name, not only because he found he liked saying it, but was unsure if she had a question.

"Ye've made me so happy," she said breathlessly. Seriously, she thought, she was going to swoon if he kept it up! Her mouth lifted at the corners as she smiled at him. Delilah said, "I was hopin' ye'd court me... I must confess."

"Delilah.." Bert reached out and put his hands on the sides of her shoulders, as if to hold her in place for a moment. "If yer confessin', I too have somethin' I need to say. I don't want to start courtin with lies.."

"I was but confessin' me desire ta be yer lady," she said almost shyly, her face turning red. "What is it, Bert?"

"Delilah, I lied to ye..." Bert paused.

The secret sat heavy on the tip of his tongue for a moment of silence before dropping into the open.

"I can't ride a horse."

She tilted her head and then broke into a wide smile before looking around. Seeing nobody about, she wrapped her arms around him again and then pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. She pulled back and said, "Ye are precious, Bert." Her eyes danced with laughter, not in jest but in relieved surprise because it was such a trivial thing to fib about being able to ride a horse.

Her furtive kiss caught Bert totally unawares, giving him the momentary appearance of a shocked goldfish - with a mustache - . He blushed and immediately found the ground fascinating to look at.

"'Suppose.." he muttered quietly, trying to hide all these feminine feelings. The two of them might be alone in the country, away from prying eyes, but things like pride, joy, affection... you couldn't display those sorts of things in public. It just wasn't done.

"Maybe," Bert began "that horse fella of yers.. what's his name? Could teach us both how to ride a horse."

"Perhaps, Bert," she murmured, her smile dimming at the change in his demeanor. Had she gone too far and just ruined it for herself? She took a step back and prepared to turn around so he couldn't see that her face was flaming red.