While she didn't know precisely how much Galt had overheard, Silke expected it was just enough to make him feel awkwardly uncomfortable. Internally she had predicted that the former thief would either feign ignorance, distract her with a joke, or be attempt to console her, though he wouldn't know how, as neither he nor anyone else knew why she avoided marriage. As he related he wished he could change the reality of the situation she gave a small smile. The count sympathized with her plight, and she wasn't certain if that made it better or worse. On one hand she was glad to have another ally that was respecting her choice, while on the hand she didn't relish the idea being seen in such a pitiable state, trapped between her agency and duty to her country.

"Lord Byrne wouldn't have rushed over here unless he was convinced it is a serious issue," she told him carefully. "He's not much of a gossip either, so if it's reached his ears, it has spread through a significant amount of the nobility. Truly I ought to be able to do more to repay him other than provide dinner and a chance for him to chastise my brother," Silke sighed. Had she been free to divulge why the nobleman was so loyal to her, and why she trusted him so thoroughly, she would have done so. Because they were not her secrets to keep, however, she couldn't explain to anything to Galt.

Galt proposed. His offer wasn't serious, was accompanied by a wink and smirk, and was delivered with a casual confidence, but the gravity of her predicament struck her at that moment. Since her mother and brother had died she had taken great pride in her independence. Without any fanfare, Silke had strode forward like a conqueror, refusing to allow herself to be restrained by societal norms. She had educated herself beyond what any lady was taught (or what was considered proper). She had taken on all her family's responsibilities, regardless of whether they were traditionally managed by men. She had manipulated and maneuvered her way through the courts, ignoring customs and traditions, and spent just as much or more time conversing with noblemen as noblewomen. She had entered into business ventures and signed contracts, despite questions about how much a member of her sex could understand the subject, and had flourished.

Yet, no matter how successful she had been, there was no simple solution to her current issue. The brighter she shone, and the more attention she brought to herself, the louder the questions about her marital status seemed. People were unsatisfied at the possibility of her remaining unwed and sooner or later, there was a possibility her hand would be forced politically, either by aristocrats of higher station or the prospective groom himself.

Silke became abruptly aware she had been staring at Galt silently. Her mouth opened and closed once as she tried to gather her thoughts and formulate an equally witty response. Typically when she dealt with the other gender she found some fault in their character or appearance, fixated on it, and allowed it to become large enough in her mind that she could reject them without difficulty. Instead of gazing upon her companion and finding such a fault, she had unconsciously admiring him- and there was quite a bit to admire. She liked how his eyes twinkled with mischief, how his smile made his entire face brighten with warmth, how his hair was never quite as coiffed as all his stuffy peers, how he had the slightest bit of swagger in his stride without being arrogant, how when he listened he turned his entire attention on her, and how he was respectful even when he was teasing. Count Harrowmark was a handsome man beyond the cut of his jaw and square of his shoulders.

"Are you already trying to find a way to escape your accounting homework?" she asked. She suspected he knew that she had paused because she was giving his joking proposal a very serious consideration, but she had her pride, and wasn't eager to capitalize on her foolishness. "Lord Byrne is correct that I would have run his house twice as well as he does. There's hope for you yet, though, to be almost as good as I am," she jested as a stablehand very tentatively approached, handing her reins for a large bay horse, and for him a chestnut, both of which were saddled and prepared for the ride.

Leading the bay away from the barn, she continued. "Imagine all the hearts you would break. The most attractive and charming bachelor in the kingdom suddenly snatched from the market." Silke made a tsking sound and shook her head dramatically. There wasn't any hint of deception in her statement because she was being honest and framing it within a joke. She was trying to act as if she wasn't tempted, as if she wasn't panicked at the prospect of being sent north, as if she didn't feel like her world was crumbling around her piece by piece. "An engagement announcement would have made for a very exciting dinner," she mused aloud sounding a little dejected to her own ears.