It's a dance of half-understood gestures on both parts then. At least Chiana's gentle approach to the horse is one d'Artagnan can fully parse and appreciate. People who treat animals well, he's found, tend to be better than those who do nothing but take them for granted.

The nickname chafes a little and the innuendo hits the raw part of him, still hurting from Constance's rejection, but he manages to keep the larger part of a grimace from his face.

"The stables aren't far from here. We can find a horse who suits you and take it out for the afternoon."