"That he does." Sometimes, in full. He gives her a quieter smile in turn, before he followed her. The words that she spoke then, however, hurt him as much as her confession.

He gestured to the seat next to her, asking silently if he could take it, before he looked up at her gravely. "It is not always like that, my lady. If done correctly, with love and affection ... it is a beautiful act. You have had the ... worst experience with it, but I assure you, there are better ones."