That statement made his heart hum, but he knew that she was wrong. She might not know it, but the truth was there wasn't anything very special about him, when one stripped away the mystique of his misadventures. If it wasn't him (which it wouldn't be), it would be someone else, because she was young and interesting and had an honest smile that would catch someone's attention. She had plenty of time to find someone, if Alfred only got out of the way first so that she could see them. She wouldn't want for options, and someone would sweep her off her feet probably much more deftly than he had.

He could have told her that, but she wouldn't have believed him. Not now, anyway.

"Well, that's the solution, then," he joked hollowly. "We'll just try again in ten years, when they've all given up on you."