He forestalls a wild urge to ask if she wants to run away with him to Barrayar.

"My mother's Betan," he says instead. "I suppose you'd know that, if you read about me... I like the place fine to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Too restrictive - but I suppose for your needs, it would be just fine. I like a planet where I can stand out under the sun without protective gear, though. ...Is, er, 'leave the door unlocked' figurative, or is that really how ghem-lords treat their haut-wives?" he asks, mildly appalled.