Been a long time since Marian had been a lady, but she appreciated the gesture.
(The gesture gave her a strange shiver that wasn't of fear.)
When she drew her hand back over to her own side of the table, Marian asked, "so what do you do with yourself here in America?" Marian figured it would be a good barometer of whether this conversation should continue. 'Well, I've picked up water-colour and repairing vintage bikes' = yes, let's get another drink. Well, I mostly stomp innocent puppies and harass girls at their school' = oh shoot, would you look at the time??