Sloane tried to keep the smirk off her features and barely succeeded. This all sounded slightly... suspicious. It went against what she had told herself about not jumping to conclusions, but now she couldn't help but try to connect the dots. "Oh I would like that," She said on the subject of odd jobs instead, choosing to be less of a nuisance than usual. She didn't want Ned to give her his best Disapproving Dad look anyway.

She pulled up a couple more weeds in silence and tossed them into the pile. She could ruminate over the interactions of Ned and Alice later when she was by herself and unable to say anything stupid to anyone else. "I do expect to hear all about it when you return." She came up with finally, thinking that to be a safe sentiment, at least. "Let's take a break, mum sent me with cookies and lemonade."  Fiona Bixby never sent her children anywhere without a snack; she was far too smart for her own good. Not to mention every single one of her children, petite Sloane included, ate more than anyone their size should. She sighed as she dusted off her hands and stood from where her legs protested from being on the ground for so long. Apparently she had some thinking to do later, but for now she would monopolize Ned's steady friendship for as long as he allowed her to.