"But - " The look on his face isn't feigned. There's absolutely nothing fake about his posture now, nothing dishonest. No. The drawling fop has vanished entirely, replaced with an actual human being. And the look on his face is genuinely, truly afraid - his expression drawn and taut, his shoulders tensed, his breath coming quickly through his lips. He clenches his fists on the table in front of him, and relaxes them, and clenches them again.

His voice is unsteady when he says, "If that's true - That might kill everyone on Barrayar. You - If everyone has it, then my home - " He clamps his jaw shut, and he draws in a trembling breath, trying to calm himself. Again, he rubs at his face, though this time his movements are jerky, unsteady.