Orson's grimace lasted on his face only half a moment before he turned it back to a smile, though not so genuine as the one he had worn before. Their father had said something similar—though had seemingly omitted Ursula's four sons when he declared he would "like to have a grandson before his death"—and Orson knew it was not a matter that could be placed upon the back-burner forever. With no woman capable of living up to Zenobia, however, any such union would ring hollow, perfuctory. He had also seen what a bad woman could do.

"While I, regretfully, must agree with you," Orson said, "my extended absence has made it so that I would not even know where to begin on that score. Perhaps next Season," he offered, a half-measure.