It was a nice change to be in this situation with someone who wasn't jumping at the chance to find a husband of a wife. It also created a rare opportunity. "Although this one does sort of miss the mark and given recent circumstances, I don't think that Elaina will let this one go so easily." Between his father and then his cousin, John Davis, it was clear that Elaina Smith was in a bit of a spin.
"I don't suppose I have particularly endeared myself to you mother and some people might say they are sorry, but I'm not sorry." That was a part of who he was. Zacharias Smith didn't apologize, but he also didn't tend to cause trouble unless someone deserved it and any mention of a marriage to continue a bloodline at this point in his life was deserving.