Eyebrows lifting a little at the sudden sound of his laughter drifting out from behind the screen, Branna's lips turned up in a momentary smile, gaze turning curiously in the direction of the shadowy corner before she gently shook her head, turning back to the basket of clothing she had fetched from by the door. Fingers nimbly picking through the assorted articles of garments, she quickly located the set of soft wool pants, a white colored shirt, and a set of dry undergarments. Satisfied with the quick estimates she made with their fit and Jame's height, she limped over to the changing screen and draped them over the top.

"Those will be fresh things to put on." She explained, giving the clothing a pat to draw his attention to their location.

Turning away towards the kitchen, Branna had just made it over to the cupboard and placed her hand on the soft wood when James called out to her, inquiring into her means of how it was she lived in such a place. She found herself frozen to the spot for an instant, dark eyes widening somewhat before she pushed the expression away, replacing it with a thoughtful twist to her lips just as the man poked his head out from behind the screen. She laughed brightly at the curious lift to his eyebrows and his teasing questions about her marital status.

"you have need not to fear dear James." Her laughter tinkled like bells. "No man has been brave enough to ask for my heart and I have yet to find one strong enough to handle it, let alone my stubbornness. I'll faint of shock the day I meet a gentleman that can handle my teasing for more than a moment."

Reaching into the cupboard, she extracted a small bag of potatoes and another of carrots, a pouch of herbs she used for soup, and a loaf of bread she had baked earlier that day. Retrieving a peeling knife she set to cutting away the skin of the potatoes, enjoying the process. She thought carefully over her response to his earlier question, dropping the curling brown skins into a spare bowl on the counter. 

"I'm a deft hand with the needle and I am able to make a decent profit off of sewing clothing and helping the farmer's wives with mending tears. And when I find that there is a lack of things that need to be amended or made, people are more than willing to let me help them with their cooking. I've heard that I make quite the tasty soup and bread.." 

Every now and then, her eyes would trail over to the changing screen as she spoke, talking far too much, but also trying to give the impression that she was doing well for herself nevertheless. 

"and what of you James?" She asked brightly, moving onto the next potato. "have you a wife that will be having a sleepless night worrying about the whereabouts of her husband? One who might come bursting in to have my head for keeping you here?"