He felt an immense sadness wash over him, at the loss of someone he had always considered a good and honourable man. No wonder she had looked the way she had, when she'd said the words. His hand stayed where it was on her arm, long fingers squeezing gently. "I'm so sorry, Marian. How long ago was it?" Not long enough for it to be any less painful, he was sure.
He did smile gently, when she said she had come to live in the forest with them. "I'm glad. Even if it was only for a while." He felt the familiar pang of worry at her having gone back to the castle, but he dismissed it. She could look after herself, and he knew that.
His hand rose from her arm, brushing the hair back behind her ear, almost without consciously being aware of doing it. He would always love to have her close. All he wanted to do right now was hold her. But he couldn't help but feel something was keeping them at this small distance. That she was holding something back.