"I'm terribly sorry." Hestia bit her lip. It wasn't often that she was the instrument of rejection in relations, so it was an uncomfortable position for her. It was probably an uncomfortable position for anybody, but she felt especially awkward. She disliked being the cause of his unease.
"I have to admit," she said, "I had a bit of an ulterior motive when I approached you tonight." Hestia paused to remove the small enchanted bag from her robes. "A patient visited the hospital a few days ago carrying this. She managed to get into my wards because she'd sprouted horns from her forehead, their growth somehow brought on by the amulet in that package," she explained as she set the bag on the bar.
"I was doing a bit of shopping, and I was on my way to the Ministry when I ran into you." She knew that he was passionate and dedicated to his work. Perhaps this would help to ease the awkwardness of the situation she'd somehow gotten herself into.