Briar: *his eyebrows are rising higher and higher, listening in blank amazement as Laramie goes on* *...holds his hands tighter, stroking with his thumbs as he fixes his gaze on Laramie's face* *voice level, but with ringing conviction* Violet, you are here because I want you to be. You do not have to apologise or ask permission or thank me for such things, do you understand?