Bela kept up easily, but she appreciated his slower pace. She found rushing anywhere even more distasteful than tardiness. Even while her own clock was counting down rapidly, she endeavored always to appear unhurried.

"I don't make a habit of liking anyone I work with, so don't take it personally." She laughed, nestling herself a little closer as the summer night had grown breezy and cool. Above, the stars and moon had been blotted out by clouds. Rain was coming, but in London, when wasn't it?

"And to be fair, I never got the impression you were my greatest fan, either." Not that he'd ever been rude. His manner heretofore had been more characterized by impatience than animosity.