Thomas smiled, perhaps a bit bashful, a bit self-deprecating. "It's difficult to feel at all impressive when one's father leaves the family destitute. The title was all that we had by the time I inherited. Along with a neglected house and property. Before I came here, I was attempting to make something of it again with a mining operation. The clay on our land was rather valuable."

He prepared his tea the way he liked it and held the cup as he sat back, appreciating the warmth of it. "It wasn't going well."