Galina's dark eyes glanced to the black-lacquered cane she had heretofore thought a simple Western affectation, to the leg it seemed pained the man with the gentle smile. Her eyes did not linger though, not for more than a moment. Whether she would or no, his admission of weakness struck a chord in her, a thrum of sympathy - pity even - though not a jot of it showed on the sweet, uncomplicated face of the Baronessa. He was far too young to be lame, and there was nothing of a deformity about him she had noted, that suggested he was born so. All the years of a warrior should still lay ahead of him. Such a wretched waste...

The Baronessa, abashed as she seemed by the paucity of her English, could still follow the erstwhile man's gestures, and his own heavily-accented words. It seemed she and the young Japanese man might yet be the answer to one another's prayers this evening. 

Though her cheeks were still rose-blushed, she eagerly nodded her understanding, and held out her hand to accept his invitation-of-a-sort, qualified as it might be. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Galina slipped her arm beneath his own, the length of her forearm running along his entirely. Her fingers and thumb wrapped about his wrist as she nodded her head gracefully, still smiling as she walked toward the staircase. A near imperceptible dip of her head said without a word passed between them, that he should take the thick oak banister with the other hand - that for this ascent, she would be the cane that no man would see.

If she seemed far stronger or sturdier than a gentlewoman ought, Galina doubted her companion would comment or complain, even if he should take notice. With her free hand, she lifted the lengths of her skirt just enough to clear the exquisitely carpeted risers. 

The couple moved slowly, sedately. There was no hurry, after all. To all appearances, they would have been most thoroughly enjoying one another's company, in absolutely no rush to part or see an end to this lovely evening. Lovers, or simply art lovers, it mattered not at all. The pair blended easily into the elegant ensemble at the Winchester Estate.

"Galina," she said softly, her voice not much louder than a whisper, meeting her new companion's gaze as they began their ascent. "I am Galina. Galina Demidova. I call you... ?"