[Hermann winced, not overfond of their new vulnerability. It sounded too much like dependency, and maybe it was, but still served as an unpleasant reminder. His fingers played over the handle of his cane in a nervous flex]

You know very well you're not. [They seemed to express it differently, and he largely suspected Newton's fear of abandonment exacerbates that particular problem]

To answer your previous question, I have not yet picked out an outfit for the masquerade.