She takes the treat from him with a smile, which fades as he continues speaking.

"That was actually pretty mild, all things considered." Dryly said. "The thing is that there's actually no serious cultural stigma against a widow remarrying; in fact it's pretty much expected. But you being an offworlder, and younger than my own kids, says to them that this is just a casual fling -- and the more conservative elements decidedly don't approve of respectable old Vor widows having casual flings."

With a crooked grin: "The notion that we might be just friends hasn't actually occurred to any of them, I don't think."