He notices things, as she skips away from him to 'lay the table' in a clearing under the trees. Her best frock (the pretty sprigged muslin). Her corset cinched just that little bit more (as if she needed to).
The blanket is laid, the basket (a baggin, she calls it) opened to reveal sandwiches, which he has no doubt she made herself for them. They are wrapped in a sweetly embroidered white linen square. He has no doubt that it is the twin to one he even now keeps in his breast pocket, with initials AJS embroidered on one corner.
The flask contains water, for even small beer or ginger beer, he will not touch. He remembers her distress on her making this discovery during a similar outing a few months ago, and a slow smile comes to his face as he recalls the way in which he eased her mind.
"Mr Bates," she says, interrupting his reverie as he is placing the flask on the blanket, "What are you thinking?"
Ah, so she has noticed this smile of his. "Just thinking about you, Anna, and this flask."
He's got her now, noticing the flush that has crept up her neck to her cheeks. "This flask?" she asks, playing his game through her embarrassment.
"This flask, Anna, and how I kissed your tears away."
He reaches for her then, and no more is said for some time. Although there is still much unspoken, and despite both knowing there is yet too much uncertainty, they are still lovers, and it is spring, after all.
Mid-afternoon finds them watching the sky through the clearing in the trees.
"Anna," he asks her, propping himself on one elbow to watch her. "What do you want? I mean, what do you really want?"
"Oh, I don't know," she begins weakly, but seeing how earnest his eyes are, continues. "A cottage, maybe. A bairn. Aye, definitely a bairn. A garden, too. A happy family, and near my mum. Nought different than anyone wants, I should think"
"Ah, it sounds nice, Anna. A very, very nice picture. And when you have this cottage and family, and your bairn, too…may I come visit you sometime?" he asks, wistfully.
Laughing, she pulls him down to her. "You shut your mouth, John Bates!" And she shuts it for him.