Nor will he abbreviate any words (though the Queen will if under stress or in a hurry) but his wife, Melanbury, has brought a new dimension to his life. As ever, it was an arranged marriage. She’s almost as noble as he is but there is one crucial difference. L’Evallier is crazy about Melanbury. She, to begin with, is terrified of being in the same room as him, making Eileen wonder what her parents told Melanbury about sex, but eventually the marriage is consummated.
L’Evallier experiences a lot of frustration before that point (!) and is aware he’s not supposed to show emotion. He’s not sure he should feel any emotions either but Melanbury changes that. It’s Melanbury who gradually helps L’Evallier to become less of a stuffed shirt while still being a gallant, honest knight to the Queen.
And, later, L'Evallier really does show his courage when, with the Queen's Palace under attack, he leads his wife out to magical transporters so she can return to her parents safely before he then returns to do what he can against that attack. He is forced to go on the run. He does not think of anything of it, sees it as his duty to do what he can to help the people against the ruthless regime of the Witch and Brankaresh, and knows if caught he will die, horribly. He carries on regardless. He considers it it what a gallant honest knight would do. And he is right.