"Oh?" Ruth smiled and looked at the flowers. "Um, thank you. I like your - tie."
She looked at the flowers again, wondering what to do with them, and Vincenzo Orsini, who had been watching with amusement, cleared his throat.
"Lovely flowers, Ms Mitchell," he said and glanced at the strange man who had been waiting so patiently. "I could look after them for you until you get back - if you wish?"