Is Giles' age compared to Kay's (considering the closeness in age of all the others) compatible with whatever rank he's got by the end of the books? I remember thinking that he seemed a lot younger in Run Away Home when I finally got to see him for an extended period.

I didn't think the conversation was creepy as such, just a bit ruthlessly pragmatic. A little Roan-ish, even. If the Navy is as vital to him as it seems to be, a potential Mrs Giles needs to be able to cope with that. I'd like it more if he'd considered the possibility that no-one would, and had taken that option into account.