He shrugs, knowing what question Watson really is trying to ask; if he had thought that would have been a problem, he wouldn't have approached Verner in the first place. There are some members of their family who have inherited his and Mycroft's feelings about a public face; Verner is among them, and Holmes has, honestly, never been more grateful.

"In all likelihood. Either he's heard it or surmised it; I really couldn't say which, if any, because it isn't something we have ever mentioned to each other. Truly I have no idea to what extent my parents may have spread the information, or if my inclinations are the subject of gossip among my family." His tone is dismissive, almost disinterested, but once this is said, his expression softens.

"I do know that Verner likely cares very little, if at all. The general trend among my family is they either cease talking to me, or they don't care, and I believe Verner belongs to the latter category. Whatever assumptions he may have made about us," he says, pausing to smile in an attempt to be comforting, "will not cause problems for us. I would not have approached him if I was not sure of that."