Ava laughed out right at that, the sound light and strangely at peace with the quiet shuffling of the horses around them. Send suitors? To her, of all people? He jested, she knew, but it was still quite the image. "You know well enough that I would spare our Queen any trouble I could, but sending her suitors to me would only end with them running back to her as fast as their legs could carry them; lovesick and longing for a true lady. Who is more true to that image than her?"
No. It did not bother her that there were no suitors knocking at the gates of her own home. She was better off without such things. For that, she did not envy the Queen. Turning her head, she signaled to her men to ready the horses. It was almost time for them to leave. She did not want to be caught in the forest after night fall.
"It should not, however, be said that you have ever stood in the way of my happiness. You know well that I would never allow for such a thing," Had time been on their side, she would have stayed longer, but she would not occupy his entire afternoon. The other things, beside herself, that required his attention. "You were a distraction I sorely needed and for that you have my gratitude."
It was not an easy thing for her to do, admitting weakness, but in this instance she held firm in her acknowledgment of it. Just this once, she would relent and leave him holding the advantage - until the next time they met, at least.