Lucius gave a haughty sniff. "Jealousy, indeed. Merely disapproval," he said, not trying too hard to fight the smile that was creeping back over his face. "I know you're up to the task. He takes correction better from you, I think." Another epic understatement. But it was familiar ground, and retreading it with her felt ... better than anything else had, recently. He lifted her hand to his lips as she spoke, and only felt his heart sinking a little at her question.
"I really don't know, my dear. It would depend - that is, you would have to think of how it would look. It would be highly unusual, no matter what, and given my position ... well. You'd have to ask him," he concluded, giving her a wary look. "But I've just said it isn't set in stone, you know; nothing is, until it happens. You shouldn't go making plans upon it." The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint her.