Silke had gotten so accustomed to teaching or telling Galt how to navigate this new aristocratic world, his easy agreement to find something purple for an engagement ring brought the abrupt realization, or rather a reminder, that he didn't need her for [i]everything.[/i] There were other people he could solicit for advice. Certainly Duke Valdemar (and his wife) would be more than happy to give recommendations and advice for the purchase of jewelry. Mentally she had shouldered all responsibility for his acclimation to being a count herself. In reality, he was a capable, competent man, and she was merely meant to help him with some things, rather than manage everything for him as she did with her brother and father to some degree.

While she could have easily swung up into her saddle herself, she didn't want to turn aside his kind gesture, so she took his hand. After she was seated she turned to watch him. His horseback riding experience- or lack thereof- was already known to her, so she had made sure he was given one of their more mild-tempered horses, one that was neither stubbornly lazy nor insistently high-spirited. By the same token, her own was one that would match his steed's gate. It felt a little cruel to assign herself their fastest stallion while he rode a gelding or mare with a loping, more lazy stride.

"Well, it's my father's estate," she said, not by means of correcting him, but diverting the topic slightly from the subject of their nuptials. Her gaze slid over the distance landscape with a mixture of pride and melancholy. No matter what she did, and no matter how dearly she adored the Kasper holdings, they would be passed to heir brother as the elder sibling and the only living son. "Surprisingly, Vincent does a respectable job in managing the grounds for the most part, though he hasn't the slightest idea how to prepare for any event or holiday. A year or two ago he wanted to host his own hunt," she said, nodding towards the forest treeline that stretched in the acres beyond the pasture. "Most of the men were also bringing their wives, who'd stay behind at the house and have a small soiree, and he was shocked we'd need to arrange to bring out more tables and linens, or move some art pieces, perhaps make some flower arrangements."

There were many intricacies of aristocratic socializing that totally escaped her brother. As deft as he was with a sword, as comfortable as he was with physical endeavors, and as well-educated he was on a variety of topics, hosting a party was an insurmountable enigma. If she ever left or passed, she'd have to make sure he either had a wife or servants that could fill the massive gaps in his abilities.

"We've a lake, quite a bit of forest, a cabin farther out," she gestured, "and quite a few lovely meadows. Any preference? I make no promises not to go fast," she said, her eyes twinkling. "You'll need to know how to at least canter without falling off in case your horse bolts during the hunt." Most women rode side-saddle but, as he had witnessed, she rode astride. It was one of her many breaches of etiquette that the court had learned to tolerate as a mild eccentricity. Not only did she have excellent horsemanship, she had expertly smoothed over most of the rankled older gentleman by subtle manipulations, be it flattery, helping them find a worker they were seeking, giving a bit of financial advice, mediating disputes with their wives, or introducing them to someone within her formidable network.