"Of course," he commented, also not meeting her eyes. He leaned against the side of the cottage and looked out at the hardly visible landscape that stretched off across the rocks and toward the sea.

Without turning to her, he quietly and sadly added, "If you wish to take her home now, I would not fault you." Despite the resigned nature to his voice, he didn't sound as if he were blaming her. He reached out to open the door for her, always remaining a gentleman despite current events.

"Ivan," he called, voice low. The dog's nails clacked slowly on the floor, headed for the door outside.