His eyes lift to her face the moment she asks him to stay and remain there as she stands. Rory can feel his own heart thudding, hear the rush of blood in his ears. Does he dare hope, or is Pippa just being her usual polite self?

He leans slightly into her touch, wanting to kiss away the tremors in her fingers but unable to let himself. "Of course you can," he answers, trying to keep his voice steady. "Anything."