Maria was just on the from the basement into the back kitchen (where the actual cooking took place) when she heard him call out. She gave herself a nervous but steadying breath and then headed towards the foyer, where the floo fireplace was. "Albie," she greeted him with a smile, trying not to show her heart beating straight out her throat on her face. "Thanks for coming over, truth is I'm home alone most of the time, I've just never posted about it. It's nice to have company." Company that didn't include the cook, the maid, or the manager of the house, at least. Campbell meant well by having the staff, she knew, and she would never tell him otherwise, but now that she was grown it felt a little weird.
She wanted to hug him or something, but she held back. "Did you want to go straight down or have a look around first?" The home in the country was a beautiful estate, she knew, but she also had never had anyone over before, so she wasn't sure if she should give a tour or some nonsense. And then, of course, she realized what she'd said and she blushed a little bit with a small noise of surprise and embarrassment. Gods, couldn't she do anything right?