She touched his hands, summoning her deepest sincerity. "I fear for you, Bash. I know you'd never admit to me how bad it is, but you don't have to tell me. I can see it. And I can't sit by and watch you suffer. What would you do for me, if our situations were reversed?"
"You entrap me, Mary." His green eyes were full of sad fondness. "You know what I would do."
"Then let me do for you what you'd certainly do for me."
"But it isn't you who's hurt, Mary. And I'm glad it isn't. Because it means I can still say no."
She shook her head, putting her hand on his cheek. "But you won't," she said, echoing what she'd said to him by the lake shore so many weeks ago, the prequel to their first reckless kiss. She kissed him now, convincingly.
"I can deny you nothing, your grace," he murmured, his forehead to hers.