This is the first time this summer that Nicola has done the hawk chores, so presumably Patrick is doing them himself usually!

And while I don't think he treats Nicola well, I'm not sure it is lovely for him to have the two 'at his beck and call' - he is uncomfortable around Nicola, surely, because he knows that he has dropped their friendship abruptly. I think he'd be happier if she had gone off to be friends with someone else (now I am thinking of Nicola and Esther at the end of the book - not a complete parallel, but goodness Forest is excellent at the shifting of friendships and allegiances).