After saying those direct words to Elizabeth, Briceus decided to hold his peace whilst he waited for her to make her decision. In his heart, he felt he'd already said all that he needed to. Truth being that he did not see the need to indulge her with more words given how a part of his mind was at present chiding him for making the move to have her ride out with him in the first place.
Before the brief falling out they both had yesterday by the maze garden, Briceus had prior decided on what he had just asked of her now — to take her on a cosy morning ride with him. But after she'd made it clear to him how she wanted to return to her room and how she needed time to reflect on certain things, he ought to have cancelled the entire ordeal and have her have as much time alone as she desired.
