Just as it felt the conversation was done, the food arrived, and before he was well aware, the young lady was preparing him a plate, despite his earlier refusal. He had meant to drink his tea quickly and go. All that needed to be said for now had been said. He wanted to go home and relief his sister of her nursing duties and rest before the challenges of tomorrow. But it felt uncivil to refuse the plate now that it had been prepared. He thanked her.

He nodded in agreement with what she said. The world was no kind place to a girl with no family and money to protect her, especially one who had never been prepared to do without these. "How did you manage to find her at all? Whitby's quite out of the way," he asked.