It's somehow worse than Ivan imagined. He has no problem flat out rejecting his cousin -- that's old news by now. But his uncle? He's got less practice at that, mostly because his uncle doesn't ask him for anything. Ivan's fine with that. There's no reason for that to suddenly change the moment he decided to sleep with someone of the same gender. Bisexuality surely does not qualify him for anything other than his normal workload, or else he never would have gotten into this.

"Surely it's nothing you need me for, sir. Although I'd be happy to volunteer Byerly, if that's what you want."

Sorry Byerly, Ivan thinks, it's for the best.