Celeste stomped on the urge to say he should stay. She'd already humiliated herself enough for one afternoon. She could only hope that by the time she next saw Mr Laurence Higgs, she'd have recovered from being quite so addlepated.
"I'm sure you're no bother at all," she said once she'd had a moment to gather her composure. "Who could turn you away?" She paused for the briefest moment before adding, "It's such a wonderful cause, after all."
Getting gracefully to her feet, she held out her hand to him once more. "Such a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr Higgs. Truly."