"What has you in such a sour mood?" Carwyn asked as he watched Jacques pace the floor.

 "It's Marian," the other man replied. "Carwyn, you know I love my daughter, but she gives me endless amounts of trouble."

 "What has she done to make you so frantic? Jacques, please, sit down and tell me."

 Jacques sat down the chair next to his. "I just discovered today that Marian is being courting by a young man without ever bothering to tell me it was happening."

 "Not a word?"

 "None! Or else I wouldn't be this frantic!"

  "Well, do you know anything about the young man?" Carwyn asked.

  "Not very much at the moment. He's the son of a business associate of mine."

 "Ah! There, you must already know a little about him."

 "Carwyn, I do not trust that particular business associate, so I also do not trust his son, and I certainly do not trust him with my daughter's well-being!"

 "Jacques, please." Carwyn squeezed his hand. "Let us see how this plays out. She may very well lose her interest in him, you know."

 Jacques nodded. "She could, couldn't she?"

 "Yes. And he may not be as terrible as you think he is now. You simply have to get to know him."

 Jacques smiled at him. "Whatever would I do with you, Carwyn?"

 He smiled back. "You won't have to. I'm not going anywhere, Jacques. I will be here for you."