Understood. [He nods, craggy face softening near imperceptibly at the endearment. He still doesn't get many of those.]

The room'll stay open. [He's never promised 'I'll wait', because he hasn't and doesn't expect the Marquis to. That was never the kind of relationship they had. But this he'll do, he'll always leave a space in his life, not large or painful, but enough that a man can step in and find himself welcome.]