"Theodora, you're being silly." he said to her, "I'm not calling off the engagement." he told her as though this were final.

Her eyes jumped up to his; was that hope in them? He wasn't spurning her now that she was ruined? How very...um...gentlemanly of him. She regarded him with a slightly suspicious look, although she couldn't seem to muster up the energy to give him a full-blown Theo look.

"I would not add to the dishonor you are already being forced to experience by leaving you alone, probably not being able to make another match."

Ah, he was being dutiful. Theodora's look slid from her face and she looked down at their hands together, nodding. After meeting the Zabini family, really, she couldn't expect anything less than duty from him.

"And you have convinced me, slowly from day one, that I could make no better match than you, Theodora. Theodora Zabini..." he trailed off with a smile, "It's got a certain ring."

Ah, there it was; now he was playing with her. The corner of her lips tugged up, just a little; her sullen look replaced with one of only slightly wronged discontent. She murmered quietly, "Unless you want to be Mr. Theodora Navarre...the offer's still open." Her voice, as flat as it was, carried a note of teasing in it.

"Now please, smile, I know it's hard, but do try."

She did, although it didn't quite reach her baby blues, and she shook her head absently, "How can I not, when you put it in such a way? Who knew you had a heart there inside of you, Zabini?" Her brow arched up, and she picked up her now cold cup of tea to sip, looking over the rim of it at him.

"I was sick with worry that you would hate me," came the simple sentence as she replaced the cup on the saucer.