Of course. A year was rarely long enough to change everything about oneself - and he would be disappointed if she had, as he had liked old Xanthippe, quite a bit. But he would hardly complain to discover some newfound confidence and that resultant loss of seriousness. If for no other reason than she deserved to know she was beautiful, desirable, and too good to change herself for others' opinions.

"I am in fact kicking myself for not having spent an appropriate amount of time fantasizing about this before," he told her. "And here, I thought I'd imagined all the ways I could have you. Then, not yet ten minutes in the door, you remind me of one I missed entirely."