The smile spread across Estella's lips. Not many people actually showed any interest in her or her practices. In fact, most who realized she was Jewess spurned or were prejudiced against her. Outside her own, none really seemed interested in actually learning about what she could and couldn't do. That thought brought a hint of homesickness but she pushed it down.

"There are." She said, pausing and looking at a vendor's table before continuing. "Dairy and meat must not be mixed at all. Different pans altogether. There a cleansing processes but usually they're just kept separate." Her brow furrowed slightly as she studied her companion. There was something there. Something that reminded Estella of her own family. Not everything had gone well for the beautiful redhead beside her. At least not from what it sounded like.

She placed a hand lightly on the other girl's shoulder. "I'm sorry." Funny really, the conversation hadn't really warranted that but the posture, body language - all of that indicated that not everything had been right, and that was why she sympathized.

"Yes, my family," she almost choked, forcing herself to keep the words smooth. This was not something she talked about. Ever. Still... "They didn't fully approve of my choice of work." She shrugged slightly fiddling with a fruit before putting it back on the stand. "Tinkerer is not exactly what the parents of an Orthodox family want for their girl." She laughed though it was forced. She looked over at Rebeka. The other girl really hadn't admitted any family issues but for some reason she felt that saying that helped. Or she hoped. "Family." She forced another smile. "You love them but they don't always understand, no?"

She averted her eyes and moved along.

[center] ~ ~ ~ [/center]

A wide smile grew on the maid's face. "Yes, you were quite young. I'm not surprised, dear." She moved over and sat beside Beatrix. "Your father used to bring you here when you were very young. He and Mr. Smith were very good friends. They went to the university together. The three of them would have such good times."

"Three?" Roger frowned. The way it had been phrased had indicated that Beatrix was not among the three. Otherwise the woman would have said the "three of you". 

The maide looked over at Roger. "Ah, such a handsome young man." She winked at Beatrix. "You're very fortunate. Are you two married?"

Roger cleared his throat, turning a bit red. "No. No. Just good friends." He stammered slightly.

The woman looked from one of them to the other, a smile toying on her lips but she left it at that. "Yes, three. Your father," she said to Beatrix. "Mr. Smith, and a third colleague of theirs Mr. Müller, used to have such great conversations. But that was a long time ago."