His eyes were on the masked woman now, "Love is not an easy thing, especially when time with the subject of your affections is so limited. I do adore her and am utterly captivated by her charm, beauty and wit. My heart leaps when I lay eyes on her or hear her voice, but I will spare you any further poetry. I could very easily love her beyond the love that is owed to her as Queen, were I allowed more time alone with her. I would hope that if she finds me pleasing she too would feel the same, beyond that love that a Queen feels for her subjects of course."
It might have been foolish to think that with his past being constantly brought up and thrown in his face that he could have spared Azyebel's name the besmirchment of being associated with him but in truth he had hoped for it. He felt she had likely suffered enough, though the silence of the last three years made if difficult for him to know the true level of the damage he had done to her.
"The Lady Azyebel," there was a very slight twitch at the line of his jaw, indicating that he was not at all happy to hear his former betrothed's name being dragged into this. "Is an innocent, to my knowledge. She was a pure, sweet young woman with all the finest traits and qualities that I did not believe I would see in a woman again until I met Her Majesty. The only blemish to her reputation was her association with me, and in that only by the promises of faithfulness I broke to her. I was made to swear that I would not touch her until we married and indeed I never laid a hand on her."
He didn't clear his throat as he would have liked but he did discreetly swallow. He was being truthful of course but it was not a happy subject. "I would not think to treat Her Majesty in any less than gallant way, My Lord. Even I know upsetting her in such a way would be dangerous and I have never exhibited any suicidal tendencies before. As I said I would be proud to serve her in any way she might desire."