"Tilly?" she asked, "I gave her the rest of the day off. She won't be by any time soon. You're not intruding on anything and it is always good to see you." She stood back and allowed him to come in, closing the door behind him and offering to take his coat so he didn't have to wear it while warming up with tea and scones. He looked nervous for some reason and she wondered why, but she wisely didn't ask.

"No, no, it really is good to see you, Pony. And you are more than welcome to talk to me, you know that." Assuming he'd handed her his coat, she placed it on a peg and then led him into her kitchen. The tea was only set for one, but she quickly remedied that with those dainty cups her father had gifted her and were out of place with the hodge-podge of stuff she had about the place to decorate.