But she remembered that he had left her before they did.

They had not availed to stay him.

They had only slipped away from her in his wake.

And at the time she had hardly noticed their departure, as he was no longer there to miss them.
Lord Lossiemouth had come determined to propose to Magdalen, his determination screwed "to the sticking point" by a deliberately recalled remembrance of the change the years had wrought in her.

He had told himself he was prepared for that.