"I will be lucky to get one offer, if any," she replies, thinking about Tobias's certain claim of her. No doubt he has made it known to his competition, and no young man would run the risk of competing with the Governor in waiting.

"Nonsense," Piers retorts, talking with his mouth full of bread, "I'll admit that what I have taught you is not a woman's work. In fact, most of the men around here are too soft to do half of the things you know how, but one day I will be gone and these town folk will have no choice but to look to you to help their...