He had known that he wasn't going to get the girl. It had been a pipe dream since day one – he had seen her and Gustafa walking together and had known he'd lost. The minstrel was younger, more charming, and more entertaining than himself. He liked to pretend that he had been ready for when they had announced their plans to get married; he had faked wizened knowledge of the fact when Celia asked his opinion on it. She, for one, had been shocked.
He had tried to steel himself for the blow.
That didn't mean that Marlin didn't hurt.