"Sorry," said James, dropping the newspaper on the table - the front-page headline, which had previously been folded under the paper, now lay conspicuously face-up - and trudged over to the sink. He snatched the stupid hat off his head and began making at least a preliminary effort to get the filth off his face and hands. "I didn't want to go wandering all over the place whilst he was here."
After a minute or so of scrubbing his hands seemed clean enough, and he reached out to ruffle Diana's hair; it was a gesture of affection that didn't require him to bring his otherwise filthy self too close to her - and besides, it wasn't as though she wasn't already mussed from her work. "Maybe next weekend, when this job's done - and it was a roof, though I s'pose technically it was a roof on a farm - but if I don't work, I can't pay my share. All right?"
The question was mild enough, although he couldn't hide his concern - clearly Diana wasn't too badly off, or she wouldn't be in here chatting, but all the same he could see the Dittany, and one never knew.