The suggestion was, in part, a selfish one. Malachi did want to aid the children in learning their way around town and settling into their current home, and if that meant being there with them each step of the way, he was more than willing to do it.

He also just really wanted to get out of the church and not listen to confessions or tidy up or do anything else for a while, and exploring town with Edmund and Mable gave him the perfect excuse to do just that.

“No offense taken,” he answered in turn, quick as ever. Being inside for so long made him feel sickly too.

Not that he would ever tell anyone that.

It was nice and sunny, Mable said… sunny. Which meant torture for a figure clad in black. Malachi nodded all the same, already stepping away to grab his hat from where he’d left it in the sacristy. He held up a finger to signal them to wait, and within a few moments reappeared, donning his saturno.

“The beach sounds perfect,” Malachi smiled, and waved for the siblings to lead the way out of the church.