[ The smile she offers is soft, laced with the understanding of what it means to give yourself over to a mission, and yet at the same time a little wistful, although even if he tracks that expression on her face she's unlikely to open up about it, even with what he's just shared with her.

It is, however, enough to inspire her toward being gentler with this situation than she might otherwise— Eula Lawrence might not be exactly the most given over to sentiment, but her own first time was unpleasant enough that she'd never wish for his to be anything other than positive.

She leans close to him, presses a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, a tender movement entirely unlike anything even she imagined herself ever doing... and yet here she is, pulling back to offer him that same smile once more. ]

I know. Here would be— [ She pauses, shakes her head. ] I'm confident you're not a lost cause too, you know. But this isn't the right place or time.

[ A thought surfaces, small but ugly: will it ever be the right place or time? He could do so much better than the eldest daughter of the disgraced Lawrence clan...

She snuffs it, not wanting the distress to show on her face, focusing herself and all her thoughts back on him, and when she speaks she tries to keep her voice as cool and detached as possible, although if he looks, he'll probably see the gentle caring reflected in her eyes despite her best attempts. ]

Are you okay like this? Or do you need me to put more space between us?