"Leave off, Ann." He says, rolling his eyes at her, "No one's going to be doing anything by the hearth. Not with Mary staying, or Nell there. She's a proper lady, not like our lot." He said, tone oddly more defensive than he had thought it would be. But he was tired, and the stress was beginning to show, that was all.
"I weren't saying you was looking to replace Arthur. I was making a suggestion, just one you might want to consider in future." He said, with a shrug.