Vanya Orlov's smile is a quiet thing, but not a disingenuous one. "Not at all. She cooks as if we have seven children, instead of just the one. And she's always glad for company." Satisfied that the mare is in good order and that Astrid is staying, he adds, "I'll get her back where she belongs, and then we can go in. Your timing was good, I was about to stop regardless."

Assuming no objections, he gets the horse back in her enclosure and cleans up his gardening tools brisky but without rushing. Worth doing a thing right, if he's doing it at all, it seems. Still, he doesn't leave Astrid cooling her heels too long.

As he rejoins her, he asks, "When did you get back to town?"