"I suppose I taught myself. Lots of time to fill when you live practically alone in the middle of nowhere. Father and Mother didn't approve our socializing with local children, so it was just my sister and I. I made toys for her."

Thomas realized that might have been a bit more of his life story than asked for, but there it was.

"Oh, manners." He grabbed a cloth to wipe off his hands, then offered one. "Thomas Sharpe."