"That's - very generous," he said to Stephen, at once grateful (it avoided the awkwardness of insisting upon paying, and it was generous) and very mildly chagrined (having someone quite so invested in how his interactions with Lyra were progressing was ... odd). "Thank you." he seemed like a good sort of person, but under the circumstances Tristan wouldn't regret leaving him behind in favor of a bit of time alone. He followed them both, and tried to look as casual as he could when she glanced back at him.
And really, he didn't feel as nervous as he probably should have. There was something about her that put him at ease. it might have been her energy - it was just easy to talk to her, to spend time with her. He didn't always find it easy to spend time with people. "The Three Broomsticks, then." He followed her once she had disappeared, and managed a mostly graceful arrival at the other hearth. It was no great inconvenience to be covered in powder when you were already a little smudged up.
"Do you come here very often, then?" he asked, dusting himself off. It would have been nice to have someplace like this quite so close to home, but The Three Broomsticks itself made him feel a little like he had better be getting home before curfew.