His question had only been meant for this party. Knowing the rest... It made his stomach turn again. She was kept, cloistered... He breathed out harshly, reaching forward to grab a plate, but grasping for her hand instead. Not exactly an intimate gesture, and he clamped his grip down, kept his fingers from lacing with hers. Harsh substitute for an affectionate thing.
If it wasn't now, it was that much closer to never.