He tried to keep his expression bland. Like he was dealing with the Lord Chamberlain. If he'd ever admit it, he was hurt by the loss. He was realizing there was no way home from here. He had thought of Valeria as the only family he had here. He had struggled with moving on from that, but Alexa had sped that up. Or he had, really. Of all the times for forget to use a condom.

He quirked an eyebrow. "Rumors?"

He was almost horrified about what a mother would hear about a not-quite-son. That question was also a weak dodge away from the point she was trying to make.