Gareth watched her with a mixture of eager interest and concern. This all sounded very juicy, but he didn't like the notion of actual danger. Still, this was all too tempting. He could always decide later not to publish any of it. "I may not be a fancy Times reporter, Miss Carrington, and I may write... from a certain perspective, but I assure you -,"

There was a whistle coming from the kitchen, increasing in noise. "One moment."

Gareth disappeared into the kitchen and returned half a minute with two cups of tea which he set in front of Pearl and Tilly. Then he sat down into the chair he had been leaning on. He leaned towards the young lady, resting his forearms on his thighs. "I assure you, I do take my responsibilities as a journalist seriously and protect my sources when requested."