Nesah scoffed when he said he would only marry for love and was fine with the prospect of not marrying. Easy for him to say. He was not extremely well dressed, but did not look like a poor man either, so he had a reasonable education and money. Nesah had neither. She had been homeschooled, and that had been rather onesided. And though she had managed to read up to a better level, she had no diploma from a fancy boys school to get her into university. And as for money, it belonged to her parents and brothers. If she would not get into university, marriage, and an advantageous marriage preferably, would be the only path to some independence. "Just a little," she said sarcastically when the painter acknowledged it was easier for men.

"That's hardly a strange man's business," she said sharply when he asked if she was here to look for a husband. She took her hands out of her pockets and adjusted the collar of her coat to keep the cold wind out. "I'm here to see family." She looked around and decided it was time to leave. "Well, I should go. Will you keep a studio in town, Mr....?"