It's been so long since he's had even that dubious sort of invitation that March can't help himself. He shifts, and goes so far as to put a hand atop her knee.

"The threat Raina might be taken from him forever, of course. Suspect the man's been alone for more than he'd care to admit. Merely planting that idea," and so his fingers begin to walk up her leg to illustrate this point of planting, "is enough to set him on edge. He may try for help but in the end, you see, he won't have a real choice. He needs that push. You've seen them before, my darling. The ones who don't seem like much at all until they have that nudge."

He settles against the settee and stares at her, the dopey look slowly but surely crawling back into his eyes.