"Good morning, Lady Thatcher."
Gabby smiled at the portly blacksmith as he opened his shop door for her. "Good morning, Mr. Brooks."
"I trust that you are here to see my young apprentice."
Gabby nodded absently, glancing around at the armor and swords that were strewn all over the shop.
"He's in the back," Mr. Brooks replied, motioning toward the door at the back of the shop.
As she crossed the threshold out into the covered courtyard behind the shop, she was hit by a wall of humidity. She stood back, watching Gareth shape a horseshoe. She picked up a finished shoe from the pile, rolling it in her hands.
Gareth felt Gabby standing behind him without even turning. It was a skill that he had honed in recent months. He continued working the horseshoe on the anvil, keeping his back turned to her. "Hello, Gabby."
She took a seat on the fence behind him, silently watching him work.
"You're here awfully early," he said, dropping the horseshoe into the water.
She sighed, pulling her hair off of her neck. "I couldn't sleep."
He finally turned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "What's on your mind, Gabby?"
She focused her attention on the horseshoe in her hands. "Do you like it here?"
"It's not so bad," Gareth replied, resting his hammer on the anvil. "Brooks is a fair enough boss."
"I mean in London, Gareth. Are you happy?"
He lifted the cooled horseshoe from the water bucker, inspecting it. "Making horseshoes?"
She nodded silently.
"Nah, not really." He tossed the shoe on top of the pile. Slowly crossing the forge, he took a seat next to her on the fence. "Are you?"
She ran her fingers along the rough edges of the horseshoe in her hands, reluctant to answer.
Gareth took the shoe from her hands, tossing it onto the pile. "What is this all about, Gabby?"
"Nothing," she replied, a bit too quickly.
Gareth shot her a concerned glance. "Gabby—"
"It's nothing, really," she assured, jumping off of the fence. "I'll see you tonight."
She darted out the door before he could even open his mouth to reply. Shocked and confused, he stared after her for a moment before returning to work.