The girl turned at the strange voice and her eyes widened in surprise. True, gentlemen enough they had what with the country estates on either side, but rare it was a single one could be found walking in town. It was more the wives and servants one saw. 

She had bright blue eyes which, had she been of a more subdued color, might have seemed muted, but as her entire face was framed in raven hair and her cheeks pinked by the winds and youth, they perhaps seemed more alarming then otherwise. Her gaze swept him with a keen and quick thought behind them. He was a dapper fellow, fine looking and clean. The cut of his cloth, above what a servant or footman might wear, it would not have taken the fine walking stick to inform her as to his station. And had Bess been any other girl, she no doubt would have had the correct maidenly flutter. But he was so jaunty and playful and it teased and tempted at her wilder, more fae side. She laughed, covered her mouth and took a step backward with a second laugh. 

The laughing was not derisive and her hand left her mouth to settle at the hollow of her throat, fingertips trapped by the swallow's wing of bone. Her small, fine head tilted to the side and her lips curved openly. “It's Bess,” she said. “My name. You said Kate, but it is Bess and what a clever one you are, giving a name to get one.” 

After introductions, at least on her side, were completed, she glanced at the inn at whose yard they were just shy and turned back to him with another gay laugh. No doubt he knew her, though she did not know him. And if he did not, then what fun! “It is beautiful out, i'nt it?” she bobbed to him then held out her arm for him. “I've been assured, sir, that th' barman is indeed at his taps and more'n willing he is to give a fine gentleman as y'self a seat by his fire. I will be the one ter person-ally guarantee it.” 

As she took his arm, offered or not, she guided him toward the inn and laughed once more, her own world a private joke which he may or may not have been in on. “Have you traveled far, sir?” she asked by way of conversation even as she led him across the yard to the door of the tavern.