Spoilers "Elaan of Troyius" (TOS) and "The Perfect Mate" (TNG) [Picard spoilers]

[Lord Garth]

I really don't see a scene where it's implied that Picard slept with Kamala other than her telling him that she has permanently bonded to him, and maybe the closing scene where the ambassador says 'how did you resist?' and Picard says nothing. That could either mean "I didn't (resist)" or it could mean "I barely was able to resist. I'm miserable about this and don't want to talk about it," which is how I've always interpreted the scene before.

The look of shame on Picard's face as Kamala was getting married and Picard's non-answer to the Ambassador were all I needed to see. Throw in Picard's awkward discussion with Beverly the following morning after the cut-away from Picard and Kamala. The writing, directing, and editing were all done with surgical precision. And Patrick Stewart's acting afterwards are what sends the subtle, unspoken signals afterwards. It's all the the facial expressions, line-delivery, and -- like I said -- the non-answers.

 

[Roundabout]

I didn't notice any scene where it was suggested that Picard had gotten physically intimate with Kamala.

When Kamala tells Picard that she had bonded with him. Picard responded, "with me?" He didn't sound like a man who had made love to anyone recently. Kamala and Picard connected and bonded emotionally, not physically, as far as I could tell.

I really don't see a scene where it's implied that Picard slept with Kamala other than her telling him that she has permanently bonded to him, and maybe the closing scene where the ambassador says 'how did you resist?' and Picard says nothing. That could either mean "I didn't (resist)" or it could mean "I barely was able to resist. I'm miserable about this and don't want to talk about it," which is how I've always interpreted the scene before.

I agree with your interpretation. I think Picard was a bit heartbroken at the end, because he did fall for her romantically. And he didn't want to talk about it.

Duty and honor kept Picard from acting out his feelings for Kamala. His duty was to deliver Kamala to Alrik, not to get with her. And I believe Picard mentioned that Kamala was "unavailable", meaning that she was meant for another man. His honor wouldn't allow him to mess with that.