His reminder to speak in English, though to himself more than to her, was well taken and accepted with a small nod. It was nice to speak plainly and to be plainly understood, but she had to take advantage of Spencer for that very reason. If she faltered with an English word, she could explain exactly what she meant and learn the proper word, not a guess of someone else. Besides, she had accumulated a good knowledge of English so far. She could converse with people on limited subjects with little problem. It wasn't as if she couldn't speak to Spencer in English.

She laughed softly with him, knowing how uncomfortable such a comment would probably make Luke. In her own time, men looked at her askance, called her witch, freemartin, questioned whether she was woman at all. She carried a seax and walked with bare arms like a man, yes, but it was also a matter of her not being married yet, an old crone at eighteen. She should have been married just after her first bleeding, like Hereswith, years ago. It was different here, and Hild could see that. Bianca, Elsa, Ellie, all sorts of young women walking through the city without men at their sides, rings on their fingers. This concept of the city's that fifteen was "too young" to drink alcohol. It baffled her still but she accepted what it meant, in this world. Hild should not be married, according to most in the city, and probably not to one as old as Luke.

Ignoring all that, of course, Luke would be uncomfortable with even joking interest directed toward him because he was in love with Spencer.

Hild grinned behind her cup of coffee. "Maybe I do this," she said. "I wish to see his face when he look at you, also."