"A noble, if lofty, goal." Lofty seemed a better thing to say than 'unachievable.' That might have been a little too unkind. He wasn't sure why he was trying to spare her feelings, but. Whatever. He just was, okay, get off his dick.

"You seem to have a soft heart, darling," he added, squeezing her fingers and running his thumb along the side of her hand. "I hope you guard it carefully."