Silke greeted him with a smile, bordering on a mischievous grin, but she waited until her escort had deposited her box on the larger table in the room before she spoke. The servant that had accompanied her up to the higher floor seemed discrete enough; however, if there was one thing she had learned over her many years in the courts, it was to never presume privacy with others around. Her hair had been twisted and coiled on the crown of her head, though today it was not secured by jeweled combs, ribbons, or fanciful braids. Similarly, her clothing was more muted, yet appropriate for a visit to the castle. Rather than large, sweeping sleeves, hers laced up to her wrists, which was still fashionable and exponentially more practical for writing. The gown was a pleasant shade of blue and snug over her shoulders and waist, flaring at her hips into a full skirt.

"It's only fair you didn't know what to bring since I didn't give you a list," she told him, walking over to her box and opening it. She withdrew the blank ledger and the smaller book she had packed. Crossing the room in a few long, graceful strides, she handed him the blank ledger as she sat down opposite him. "This is a gift for you, but before you are too terribly excited by my generosity, it's to help you keep track of your finances. When my mother passed away, I found one she had kept of our family accounting, and it was indispensable in helping me learn and stay organized myself." She held up and opened the smaller book she had brought with her and thumbed through the pages, showing that each piece of parchment was covered in neatly inked notes and figures.

Silke leaned back in her chair and crossed one ankle over the other as she evaluated him for a moment silently. Galt had seemed hesitant to accept her proposal a few days prior, so she was a touch surprised that he was so eager and anxious. Perhaps he was the sort of man that needed to commit to a plan before he could truly invest himself. It was a welcome change, however, and she wasn't about to look a proverbial gift horse in the mouth.

"After we spoke it occurred to me we should start with one of the fundamentals that affects you the most at present. Your estate is still being finished, so you have a rare opportunity to master the basics before you're managing a new household. Don't get me wrong, the politics of the courts is equally important, as are riding lessons," she added with a hint of humor and sparkle of her eye, "but I imagine those can wait a little longer. Getting your new residence in order is also an excellent excuse to miss social obligations until you're ready. Not that you'll have any shortage of invitations," Silke mused aloud.

Since their parting the night they had met, she hadn't been able to avoid all the gossip circulating the newest eligible bachelor. Those who considered themselves her friends were cautious about expressing their interest in Galt. Silke had denied that she harbored any romantic affections for anyone in particular, but many ladies remained suspicious, and that had created its own stir. Daughters of barons, counts, and other prominent members of the nobility saw it as a chance to either compete against the 'darling' of the court. He could be aloof and distance for the first couple weeks of his appointment, but the women would not wait overly long, and soon they would pursue him with renewed vigor unless he tarnished his image in some way.

"There is something else that occurred to me when I was preparing to visit you today. You are now newly wealthy. As you saw when you rescued the duke, having wealth does make you a target. The bandits you saved the duke from- is there any chance that they will seek you out now, for revenge, or out of jealousy over what you've gained?" Silke lifted her eyes from the book in her hands to meet his gaze. She wasn't rude enough to outright accuse him of being part of the brigands; whether he was or not wasn't of any real importance to her. What she sought was information about what had become of them... a detail curiously omitted from the tales she had been told.