Shoulders slackened a bit in relief and the fellow settled back in their seat, ghost of a smile creeping onto their face as their companion continued. Yes, that was another thing about her that they found useful, and even perhaps charming: a talker was prone to let information slip without meaning to. They were not at all supposed to care about the status of these children--they hadn't particularly parted on the best terms--but, even if they didn't ask, it was information they could keep.

"Don't thank me, really. I mean it." They forced nonchalant, opening their book again. "Half the recipes I picked up from the Widow who lent me a room when I first--well, in any case she's deserving of more of the credit. Just don't spoil them, alright? Else the lot--Excuse me, or else they'll find reason to walk all over you. Ha."

As if any of the children could.