Despite the heat radiating from the fire and the warm blanket wrapped around her shoulders, Silke was still cold. There was only so much that could be done about the fact her clothes were dripping wet. Suppressing a shiver, she furtively wished there was something appropriate for her to change into. At this rate it would take some time- during which she would be miserable- before her undergarments and dress were dry. Shifting her weight, she tried to negotiate herself into a position that was a bit more comfortable, where her skin wasn't touching as much damp fabric, and frowned in disappointment when that proved impossible.

She listened quietly as Galt explained his past, or at least why he didn't have much contact with his family. Evictions weren't anything new to her. The Kaspers had tenants for their lands, most of which were farmers, and every once in a while they had to conduct an eviction themselves. It wasn't quite the same process as the landlords of the cities, she was certain, but there were more similarities than differences. Since neither her father nor her brother were efficient at managing the estate, the onus fell on her to deal with such unpleasant situations. To his credit, Vincent would join her to be physical protection since a surly drunkard almost took a lunge at her the year before last when she delivered the news he needed to leave his home. She had been full of sympathy for the fellow, who had a rough year, and she hadn't anticipated his hostility. His life had been falling apart, he hadn't worked any trade for months nor did he have any plans to, and was relying on charity to get by. There was only so much Silke could do. A very nice couple, the wife pregnant, ended up moving into that particular cottage.

As awful as eviction was, she was aghast that a boy of twelve would be taken [i]hostage[/i] to scare his parents. "It wasn't stupid," she told him softly. "Who wouldn't have tried to escape back home?" She patted his arm reassuringly though he didn't seem to be expecting her understanding on his self-judged foolish actions. "You don't know for certain what they would have done besides." The world was a cruel place, something he knew more intimately than she ever could. It seemed dubious to her that he had been kidnapped merely to threaten his mother and father. Even as an aristocrat she had heard of children sold into slavery to pay debts. It was outlawed, of course, but that didn't stop thugs.

"If anyone brought down the mood, it's me talking about Alistair," she said with a shrug and a smile. There was melancholy buried deep within her eyes that persisted through her attempt to lighten the mood. "You should find your brother and sister," she encouraged him, "and Stendan. Wouldn't you want to know if you have nieces and nephews? To be able to help your siblings now that you can? Life is short, and if you hesitate for too long, you might regret it," she added. Like anyone who had suffered a loss, Silke had regrets. She regretted the times she argued with her mother, or flouted the rules, or was petulant, or missed an opportunity to learn how to be an adult woman. She regretted the times she avoided her brother because of a spat, or made fun of his struggles, or sassed him just to get on his nerves, or turned away an offer to do something together. Most of all, she regretted she hadn't told them how much she loved them, and what made them such extraordinary people that the sky was a little dimmer with them gone.

After rocking a moment in silent thought, she came to a decision. "In fact, I think I'll insist that we find them for the wedding. I've some connections that are very good at finding things and people," she remarked, flashing him another charming smile. "Being connected to you can only help them, although Stendan a bit less. Being able to say your son or brother is a count can go a long way," she continued, attempting to persuade him it would be for everyone's benefit. "At the very least, you could move your parents to a home they won't have to worry about paying rent on... so long as you take my accounting lessons seriously." Silke winked at him to make certain he realized she was teasing. "As long as you are a shrewd investor, you can afford to very charitable as well."

"Ah! And don't worry about what anyone else might say about commoners being at a ceremony. I'll take care of any snobs," she said with a wave of the hand as if it was just that simple. In truth it took quite a bit of charisma, finesse, and panache to manipulate the nobility to accepting peasants as anything more than their inferiors- but she was confident she could do it. It would not the first time, and undoubtedly not the last, she had controlled and shaped public opinion.