"Most of what I have is difficult to hurt," he confessed with a small smile. It wasn't that he was clumsy, but he hadn't wanted anything he needed to worry about chipping or breaking or otherwise injuring in the course of living and cooking.

"I know you like them. It's rather nice thinking they'll get more regular use now." He watched her put the bowls away and felt a warm sort of flutter. HE'd never had someone to appreciate little things like that with. He'd never really merged households before - not like this, anyway. His wives had all come to Allerdale, and none of them had managed to change it.

But everything was different here, and he was grateful for that.

"I hope all these boxes aren't putting you off. I'll unpack in short order, I promise."