There was a small pang of guilt as Galt declared he believed her if she thought he could learn the bow in that short a period of time. Making him a master of archery (or even halfway decent) within a week had honestly not been part of her plan. Hearing that he had such faith in her made her felt a touch undeserving. The understanding was clearly her fault for being so vague and coy about what she had in mind, and so she could see how he arrived at the conclusion he had. It was a habit of hers to keep all her figurative cards close to the chest. At home her brother and father were sincerely better of remaining ignorant, and when she was in court it was all a game, one she was required to play. Internally she sighed at her foolishness. She needed to be more direct.

"You needn't put such pressure on yourself. Archery is a skill that takes a while to develop," she began so it did not seem she was condescending him in any way. "I thought we might use a bit of subterfuge. On hunts it is understandably a challenge to know whose arrow struck the target if there are multiple shooters. For this reason the fletching or the shaft is distinctive so that they can be told apart. Since you will be new to the bow, you'll use a lower draw weight to start until you build up experience, and that lower draw weight will be similar to what I use. With a bit of misdirection and slight of hand, and you knowing the basics, you will be a very impressive and convincing hero, not that you aren't already." Silke flashed him a confidant smile. It was easier in concept than in execution, of that she was aware, but would be playing to their strengths of being able to mislead others for their benefit.

The smile on her lips faltered when Galt requested her attendance at his future lessons. Though the compliment brought a twinge of colors to her cheeks, her reaction was otherwise subdued, muted in comparison to his other flattery. "It was my brother Alistair that taught me how to use a bow. When I was younger I wanted to be able to do anything my big brothers could do. I'm not sure if Alistair took pity on me or couldn't tolerate any more of my whining, but he taught me in secret. Vincent would never approve. He loves and worries about me," she elaborated in a soft tone, "and though he has hardly any social aptitude, he knows how hard it is to change the mind of traditionalists like the nobility. My marriage prospects would dry up if it was revealed I had such a 'violent' and 'unladylike' talent, and he wouldn't want that to happen me, no matter how much he relies on me at home."

She shrugged as if it didn't matter, as if she didn't care at all about her ability to wed, as if she had given up on that part of her future. Silke had deliberately avoided the topic with him. Though they had danced around the subject of her single status, she hadn't divulged the real reason she had distanced herself from eligible men, or rejected romantic overtures. Undoubtedly Galt was curious, but she was afraid he would pity her- which was the last thing she wanted.

After nodding to his thoughts he would like learn to the way of the sword, she raised a brow as he choked on his food. For such a self-proclaimed flirt he certainly wasn't eager to enter into a dalliance with anyone. She had rather expected he might try to meet all the beautiful ladies the noble houses had to offer and then have difficulty settling on just one to officially woo. "And here I thought men preferred a woman in the 'prime of her youth,'" she gently teased coyly. The phrase was not her invention, but rather something she had heard on occasion, once even as a comment on her age.

"Ah, and that reminds me. You should... exercise caution when we are in the presence of my brother or you are talking to him about me. He is extremely," she paused, trying to find the correct word that didn't have too negative a connotation, "protective." Zealous, overbearing, and suffocating would have also applied in this context. "If he thinks you have the slightest bit of interest in me," Silke continued with a blush, "he'll be an absolute bear about it. Not that I need his saving, and you've made your intentions clear, but he is a little... paranoid."