"Yes," she repeated, "I will marry you."
Her smile faltered when she saw the look on his face. He could disguise neither his confusion nor his sadness.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I'm so very sorry."
He plowed on, attempting to head off the pain and embarrassment that threatened to drown her. "The ring isn't mine. I'm just holding it, for a friend."
She looked more intrigued now than hurt so he continued on as quickly as his mouth would carry him. "Yes, holding it for a friend. He had to go away… for a while… didn't know when he'd be back." He finished with a flourish, "So I'm keeping it safe for him."
He smiled, quite proud of his mental gymnastics, at least until he focused upon her down-turned expression. Finally she met his gaze, the flush rising on her cheeks.
"I'm…" She dragged out the word, dreading what came next.
"Not to worry Pond," he tried to relieve her embarrassment with an understanding tone and soothing words. "Quite a reasonable mistake, anyone could have made it."
He deftly plucked the box from her unresisting hand. "Now I should put this somewhere safe." He spoke as he surreptitiously verified the box and its content were safe.
"Best keep it somewhere safe, Doctor." A bit of smile threatened to break out on Amy's face as she spoke, "Else what would your friend say when he returns?"
"What?" The Doctor snapped shut the box and snapped his attention back to his companion. "Yes… when he returns…"