Being fussed over by a pretty girl should probably be flattering, but Nicholas is too overwhelmed by the crushing weight of embarrassment. And a desire for vengeance against that bull, but even he is not reckless enough to act on that immediately. (Soon, though. Soon.)

"Really, I'm fine. Just a little sore." But he does stay where he is. Partly to avoid upsetting Olympia and causing an even bigger scene (with, probably, even more puppy dog eyes from her), and partly because he is in fact more than a little sore.