Mercifully, Zach picked up upon her silent pleas and elected to stay with the two women. While Jo enjoyed her few conversations with Miss Binns and found her perspectives fascinating, she simply didn't trust conversation topics to remain far from her and Zach's relationship. Which, given Miss Binns' reluctance for Zach to stay and the immediate mention of why he would abandon work early, felt far too imminent a threat.

She and Zach hadn't discussed the logistics of maintaining their relationship long term. Nor had they spoken of courting, marriage and the likes, but as she felt Miss Binns eyes reassess her once again Jo knew they would have to sooner than later. She hoped it could wait until after Christmas at the very least, though. Losing the quiet peace they had established so soon would devastate her.

"Please, call me Jo," she said, rather than respond to those comments. Zach could however he saw fit, for Jo mostly felt like a deer in wand light at present.