Her show of nerves touched something slightly painful and longing in him. He quickly averted his eyes. "Well, from your treatise, she thinks you're an authoritarian bitch. But one with sensible ideas. She makes a great fuss of abstaining from wine, but she does it all the same. You'd have no trouble proving her wrong about you."

Finally he drew his eyes from the sea and looked back to her profile. Hands in his pockets, he nudged her shoulder with his. "I won't force you. But the offer's open. Should you want to be sure she's keeping well. And I think it might...please her. She doesn't say as much, but she's had me promise to find a good home for the boy."