He didn't answer her, which, combined with her instinct which had caused her to ask the question in the first place, was answer enough. Juliana waited at the edge of the fireplace, growing more and more frustrated by his inability to just say no. Even if it was a lie, couldn't he have just promised her not to do anything crazy as a result of her leaving?

No, apparently he couldn't. Juliana let out an audible sigh of frustration and walked back to the sofa. She sat heavily, any attempt at ladylike propriety or grace abandoned, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, you'd better put another kettle on, then," she said tersely. She was not going to give him an excuse to go do something stupid, when he was being all vulnerable and sensitive and dumb about everything, but that didn't mean she was pleased to be staying.