That reminds him of something else he'd wanted to bring up, something he very well might need her for, and he abandons the revelation he'd been working towards to focus on something more immediately important.

"There is one thing I wanted to ask you about," he admits, turning towards her and leaning in a bit, like they weren't already alone in here. "In the aftermath, I confess, there was someone I persistently kept calling to mind, even knowing they were imaginary, and, well... " He sighs. "I can't deny what a comfort it was."

"And I know it's selfish, inherently and appallingly so, but I find myself wondering if I couldn't try to bring Diefenbaker here, after all." He watches her face hopefully, if a little guiltily.