"Feldmann, but please call me Jacob. And whom do I have the pleasure to assist?" he asked with a grin, as he started leading the way.

Jacob Feldmann... It was a nice name but not one she knew, so perhaps he was new to town... If so then maybe he wouldn't have heard of her family yet... but then the town was full of gossips. "Alexandra McPadraic, I can't thank you enough for the help" she smiled and followed his lead.

"Oh the pleasure is mine, miss McPadraic," he said in a cheerful tone. He led her up a few steps into a street and then through a few yards and up some more steps, and he opened the door of a small two room cottage. "Here we are, Miss McPadraic. Sit yourself down and I'll get a fire going."

Alex followed with her head down, hoping that no one would notice her. Hopefully not, it wasn't like she came to this part of the town often. She gave him a smile as she passed into his house, taking in the small cottage. "Oh... I wouldn't want to leave a water stain Mr.... Jacob" she managed to catch her self and looked towards the man.

"Oh don't worry about it." Jacob got the fire started. "Its not much to begin with." The cottage was simple, but unlike in most cottages, there was a shelf of books. Not the bible and perhaps a hymnal that a fisher family might have, but novels, books on philosophy, and economics. "I'll find you something dry." He said and he left for the other room.

Instead of sitting, she moved towards the fire to warm herself, but her eyes drifted to the shelf and stayed there with interest. Once Jacob had left her, Alex moved straight for it, tracing a finger over the spines before during one to drift her eyes over the pages.

Jacob returned with trousers, a shirt and a sweater. "Oh? You like reading? Here, put these on first, or you'll catch your death." He handed her the clothes. "You can use the bedroom. I'll make you some tea in the mean time."

Alex jumped and looked at him scared like she was in trouble, but when no yelling came and only the offer of warm clothes she relaxed and gently placed the book back and moved to take the clothes with nothing more then a small smile and quiet thanks. She returned shortly after, the clothes slightly big but she had done her best with the ribbon from her dress pocket to make herself a belt for the trousers. She silently went about placing her clothes near the fire to dry. Her eyes wondering between her work, Jacob and the wonderful collection of books.

When he saw her come out of the bedroom, he laughed cheerfully. It was a funny sight, her thin body in his clothes. "You look good, comrade. What do you have in your tea?"

"Depends on the type of tea" she responded and movemed over to where he was working only slightly reluctantly instead of towards the books. "I really can't thank you enough Jacob."