Honor is unbelievably important to James; his own, doubly so.

So when she asks him to keep his tongue, he searches her gaze and sees that she is quite serious. She does not want to draw this out, does not want to embarrass anyone, and now she has something in her own mind that she had been worried about.

His mouth curved up at the corners, although his gaze was a little sad, "I am sorry that they would call you such harsh things -- and pleased that you have had some of your burdens lifted with this."

He paused, "But are you truly sure you are going to be all right?"