He had to admit, she was good. Even as he closed his eyes, he knew he was going to see it her way, even if he did not see how at the current moment. Silke wasn't wholly wrong. Galt did have a soft spot for those less fortunate, as he had been. But it wasn't the bleeding heart she might hope for, and ironically that was also a factor borne of his upbringing. He had been too busy trying to survive himself for him to care if other people did or not. But then she mentioned the Duke, and perhaps he was just kidding himself. He [i]had[/i] saved the old codger when he did not have to. 

He found he had a difficult time around her as she spoke and handled the horses. It was true, Galt didn't have a formal education, but there was a difference between memorizing passages from an old tome and true intelligence. Silke was persuasive and skilled, and he found that wildly attractive. True, she did not have some child's fairy-tail gossamer beauty like a few of the women at court played at, but only a fool would think her anything but comely, and she seemed both brilliant and witty. 

"I don't think you're too severe. Though I would argue that's their failing rather than yours." The scoundrel retorted as he did his best to mirror her movements on her mount, trying to get his horse to be on the handsome trot hers had taken. Galt was a quick learner and could 'fake' it well enough, and so he attempted it. "And thank you, sometimes I put on an act so stupid I begin to think that I am by night's end." He finished that with a flash of a grin.

The wind picked up just a for a brief moment, but it only alleviated the fog slightly. Insects had begun to chirp, but not in great droves. The weather was not warm as of yet, and the country still needed some time to shake the trappings of winter before spring. He supposed his noticing of their surroundings told him the trail was finite and brought him back to reality. He had already made his decision, anyway. "I think only a madman or a fool would think they can dissuade you now, and since we both fancy myself as neither, I suppose I will accept your offer on the proviso that I even know what you are asking of me." 

His horse stamped and shook its head, but did not stop. He couldn't tell if he was doing something very right or very wrong. Placing a hand on the beast's powerful neck, he soothed it. He had nothing against steeds or animals. Hell, a horse had made it possible for Galt to find himself in this strange forest escorting a noblewoman to her home. "You should tell me what exactly you are proposing, my lady, before I decide to leap straight into something. Are you asking us to become allies? Are we to have secret rendezvous' and discuss matters of politics and who our enemies are? I don't mean to sound theatrical, but I honestly don't know what the specific details you wish of me. If you're asking whether or not we could have more rides like this and a few dinners with less interruptions, sure. But how would you counsel me, and what would you get in return?" 

Galt hoped he wasn't being too straight forward. He rather liked their banter and teasing, but he could do that sort of sparring after they made the rules so she nor he would overstep bounds and would have a clear goal. "Also, if we'll see each other more, I'll respect your boundaries and wishes. I'm not really the marriage type, but I'll flirt occasionally. But I do that anyway, so I hope that's ok. If it's not, I'll do my best to rein it in. I value our admittedly recent friendship if nothing else."