He gives her a faint smile back. She can't see it, but she can at least probably hear it behind the tiredness in his voice.

"I could." He sighs and straightens up. "I don't know what you've heard, but the stables are damaged. Badly. It's going to take a lot of work to get them straightened out and..." He exhales again. "And I'm tired. And wet. Dripping wet, even. I'm going to have to mop before I leave tonight. How are you faring, in this weather?"