For anybody who could have witnessed the scene, it was just a hand on a cheek.
But for him, it was her hand on his cheek.
It was the hand of Lady Sybil Crawley on the cheek of the Irish Chauffeur, Tom Branson.
It was a simple gesture but the meaning behind it was far from simple. It was everything and nothing at the same time.
It was the promise he could, at last, have hope.
The air in the garage was charged with something special and time seemed to have stopped as he felt her silky thumb lightly caress his raspy cheek.
He stopped to breath.
"Not quite, but almost."
Her words were still ringing in his ears as he looked into her eyes, not ready to break the spell of the moment, and the continuous caress of her thumb.
"Almost…"
He couldn't describe how much this word was fulfilling his heart right now.
She was thinking about it. And soon, he'll know.
Either, he would leave Downton Abbey with no job and a broken heart as Mrs. Hughes already warned him so many years ago. Or else, he would leave with the hand of the woman he fell in love with in his, heading away for a new life.
But for now, they were still at Downton Abbey, in the garage, and her thumb was still caressing his cheek.
At the moment, things could end in different ways.
He could put his hand on hers and return the caress as a proof of his tenderness and understanding…
He could take her in his arms and kiss her as a proof of his passion…
He could take a step back as a proof of reason because a Lady can't act so friendly with a chauffeur…
But none of that happened.
They just smiled at each other and, after and adorable pink had appeared on her cheeks (surely after realizing what she was doing), she took a step back, saying she had to leave and he let her go…
…as a proof of his love to her.
Because, deep inside, he knew he couldn't do anything else until he was sure she would choose him and follow him for good.
The end