“I’ll be sure to save ye some,” she said cheerfully. Her eyes danced with merriment at that. She served the food up and sat to eat by that point. After a few, not so dainty bites of food from someone with a hearty appetite thanks to having to feed two babies and working hard at doing laundry, she sat up a little straighter.

“I didn’t have much time ta be learnin how ta cook when I was travelin’ with me brother. And then I thought I found where I wanted ta be fer the rest of me life. I met Harold shortly after I began to learn how to cook and won him over with scotch eggs.” She missed her husband, she thought, and shut her mouth for a moment as she stared down at her stew. “Anyway,” she said after a moment.

Then she cleared her throat and replied to him about meeting the others, “Nay, I haven’t had a moment to meself in some time ta be able to go visitin’. Right now I wish ta wait anyhow… I am sure ye understand.” Her words were quiet at that one. She was still a bit shell shocked from the jilting.