"I could guess that they might not think it was anyone's business but mine, except for making me seem vaguely disreputable, unless you were planning to marry me, in which case I could guess that they'd say it would be appropriate for me to stop beforehand and not start again. If you married me and it was generally known that I did that sort of thing - well, people would feel sorry for you, especially since I'm not any kind of nobility. People, your parents likely included, would think it meant that I didn't really love you. While we're on the subject of your parents' opinions on you and me and marriage, I think that from what Cearl said to me yesterday, if you do plan on marrying me he'd appreciate knowing about it well beforehand."