Caleb inclined his head. “Let me make a few calls of my own. Between us, we can probably have a map to rival Google within ten minutes.”

Now that right there was a statement I didn’t doubt.

Unfortunately, that meant I was left alone with Miles. It was a situation I didn’t want to be in, so I busied myself by collecting the dishes. We’d all mucked in for Caleb and Arthur’s food, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t clean it by myself.

Miles stood, gathering the glasses from the island.

“Leave them,” I said firmly. “I can do it.”

“I’ll hel—”

“I am capable of filling and running a dishwasher.” My tone was colder than I’d intended, but I wasn’t entirely sure I’d cared.

After all, I’d spent a long time being nice to him and trying to make friends with him. He’d rebuffed every single one of those gestures, and our conversation this morning had, sadly, made it glaringly clear why he’d done so.

And that was fine.

But I was no longer going to attempt to be kind to someone who had no intention of returning the sentiments.

“Please sit down, Mr. Kingsley,” I said when he didn’t listen to me. “I would prefer if you waited for Arthur and Caleb to return with some information.”

“Gabi, I—”

Gabi.

Gabi.

It was the first time he’d used my name like that.

And I hated it.

I was smarting from our conversation earlier. I wasn’t bloody happy, and I was going to let him know that.

“Lady Hastings.”

Miles froze.

Even I felt the ice in my tone. My voice didn’t feel like my own—it was as if I’d borrowed it from someone.

I turned to face him and met his gaze. It dipped for a second before he returned it up to meet mine. “At the minimum. Given our recent conversation, you would perhaps do well to remember that,” I said quietly, but with no more gentle a tone than my previous words.

Miles hesitated. “Of course, Lady Hastings. If you don’t mind, I’ll check in and see if there’s an update on the roads.”

Swallowing as I turned away, I said, “I think that would be best.”

He inclined his head to me, although there was a certain defiance in his eyes that said he hated every second of it.

I didn’t give a damn.

I hated his judgement.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” he said, reverting to the formality he used with my father. “I appreciate your kindness.”

“Of course,” I said quietly. “Do let me know if you have any issues returning to the village.”

“I will.”

“Good day, Mr. Kingsley.” With that, I turned and left the kitchen, leaving him alone. Our earlier conversation had hurt me in a way I didn’t care to admit, and I was grateful for the farmer who’d cleared the road for his lake.

I’d have to send him a basket of something nice for his efforts.

“Oh, milady,” Arthur said, catching me in the hallway. “Master Caleb should have no issue at all returning Mr. Kingsley to his property, if you wouldn’t mind.”