"I wouldn't mind escorting you about for a time. What better way to spend the afternoon than in the company of good people?" He gave a smile, his white teeth flashing and his eyes twinkling warmly as he peered at the young woman. By God, she was pretty. No, not just pretty; beautiful. She had everything it took to catch his attention, but he wasn't so arrogant as to think that she would like more than just an escort about.

He offered his arm then and dimpled at her. "Where would you like me to escort you, Miss?" he asked.

Nettie's expression brightened when he agreed. "Oh yes, I completely agree. I do like spending my time with others when I can." She nodded and felt lucky to have ran into such a helpful man, and he was so handsome. When he smiled more and offered his arm, she felt her cheeks blush a little. That was one of the nicest smiles she'd ever seen. She took his arm and looked around.

"I am very new in town. I wanted to just learn of some good places in the area to eat and shop. My uncle showed me, but I admit I didn't learn it quite well the first time. I knew how to get this far from the boarding house, but after that.. things get a little uncertain. Whitby has a lot more going on than I expected."

"Tell me, miss, are you looking for something to eat? Or does a library meet your fancy?" He offered, his eyes twinkling kindly. He then started toward the other end of the market where they would head toward the bakery that supplied the Carringtons with bread and such. He opened the door for you. "This is where you can get the best tarts in town," figuratively and literally, but that was another story which Maxim was not privy to.

A miserable looking Andrew greeted them with a forced smile and then gestured toward the sweets, "Sweets fer yer sweet."

Nettie's eyes widened a touch. "There's a library? Oh both would be delightful. But I shouldn't be greedy with your time." She smiled towards him as he seemed so very kind and Maxim was very handsome. His smile seemed to constantly reach his eyes.

She gave him a polite nod when he opened the door and stepped in. The place did smell delicious and she put a hand to her cheek. "Oh, I am so weak to tarts." She did have a slight sweet tooth. The display was mouth watering. When she looked to the voice, her smile faded a bit as the man there seemed to have something going on. She hoped his business was going well. Had his troubles been unrelated, she hoped things turned out for the best.

"Ah!" She blushed and shook her head quickly. "We've just met. Thank you though!" Her head turned to her new friend and she apologized quickly. "Anything would be fine. It all looks so good."

"Apologies, Miss," he said, for they were a handsome pair and didn't seem to know it. "'Ere's free samples if ye'd like," and there were bite sized tarts to try with the fillings of each type, like chocolate.

Maxim took an apple tart and tried it... Oh my, he thought, and then said, "I'd like one of the apple tarts for my mother, if you'd please, and whatever the lovely Miss is having," he grinned, and even Andrew couldn't help but like the chap.

Nettie glanced towards the side at Maxim. "Well, if the apple is good enough for your mother, I'd like to try one too."

She wanted to refuse his payment for the tart. But it did seem rather rude. The young woman was having a pleasant time and if things turned, she'd simply pay him back for it. "Thank you kindly for this.." her good mood radiated from her as she bit into the sample and nodded in appreciation. "Thank you!"

There was no turning sour on Maxim's part except for when he saw the way the baker paused and eyed Nettie. An unreasonable stab of jealousy issued within Max but her bit his tongue as it was highly inappropriate that he even had that envy. "You're welcome," he said instead, voice taking an odd tone due to the situation. It wasn't that Andrew just looked at her like that, the man fairly undressed the girl with his eyes and it just didn't sit well.

"And indeed, there is a library. Once we're done here, I will show you the way."

While the younger Brennan was enjoying the sample, she noticed a shift in tone from Maxim and he wasn't looking at her. She looked from him to the baker and the man was staring at her. She immediately rose a brow and stepped closer to the man she'd come in with.

"Oh, I would love to see that. Reading is very important, and I do enjoy it. I noticed a book store while I was walking around my first day as well. Maybe I'll try there later, I could find a book to take with me to enjoy. What sort of things do you enjoy to read?" She asked him while keeping a bit of distance from her and the baker, ready to leave as soon as Maxim was.

He reluctantly shelled money out to the man, not bothering to wait for coins to be returned. He took the tarts and then ushered his new friend out of the shop, curling his lip a little. He wanted to say something but he didn't know if it was his place. "Are you alright?" he asked once they were on their way to the library.

There was relief when Maxim paid the man and they were able to leave quickly. She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding as they were back on the street and she smiled at her companion, to assure him she was fine. "Of course, though I may not be going back there alone. I do not think he'd do anything, but I do not like the way he was looking at me. Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding, but still.."

She decided to keep closer to him and didn't look back at the bakery. There had been another she'd seen in town that she'd gone with her uncle her first day there. The food had been good as well, so perhaps she'd go there for the most part. "Thank you for looking out for me.. I appreciate it."