<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=100394.msg4369426#msg4369426">Quote from: Sabriel on 14-03-2011, 07:13:01</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Mr Cockley watched the bustle of those about him and listened with interest to any idle chatter and gossip, he nodded along with Helena's words in firm agreement.  <em>“Yer maybe, I dun rightly believe in tha myself but neva be to sure can ya.  Best be it locked up with all tha other mouldy crap they thinks worth keepin.”  </em><br/><br/>He grinned as she suggested that the broth would not be out of the question, displaying another clear sign of his less than noble roots. <em>“Ah thanks, I dun mind if I do.”</em> He assumed the first bowl was for herself and did not seam to be expecting her to ladle one for him, taking the task as his own to do.   <em>“Ill just ave this then warm me cockles a bit an be off, bes not keep tha horses waitin to long.”      </em> <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><br/>Helena was relieved the coachman saw after his own needs rather than make her do it for him - which would make her feel more like a servant. Spoiled as she was by her upbringing, she hated feeling like a servant. Maybe it was this kindness that caused the governess to stay and chat with Mr Cockley, or maybe it was because she felt the need to talk to someone, anyone but those annoying kids in her charge, and since everyone else was busy this somewhat coarse man would have to do.<br/><br/>"I didn't use to believe in that sort of thing either," the large woman said in perfect, clipped English, "Now, I'm not so sure. You heard the maids..." gossiping far too much in Helena's opinion. It always made her wonder if the people who'd served her when she was younger had done so too -<em>of course they had</em>- and what they might've said about her and her parents.<br/><br/>The woman sat back down, crossing her legs, and set her bowl down on the table but didn't start to eat just yet, waiting for the man to join her as was proper. "Strange things are happening in this house. Two of the maids have fallen sick and some people..." herself included but she didn't want to reveal that. "Some people have been seeing strange things. A great black hound, a raven at the window," she shook her head, smirking in a skeptical way. "Of course, they might be suffering from over-active imaginations."<br/><br/>She tilted her head at the coachman, "You said miss Ashwin takes a special interest in this kind of thing?"<br/><br/>Helena had heard the name of course, combined with some scandalous rumors which she didn't take at face value, but here was one of the ladies own servants talking about it and she was intrigued.<br/>