Richard had been contemplating the display in a store window, softly whistling a melancholy air to himself when he heard his name called. Turning, his face broke into a smile as he recognized his date for the evening.
"Think nothing of it," he replied as he held out his hand for a quick handshake. "Women and cats." In keeping with his multilingual upbringing and later life of travel, his English was almost completely untouched by the typical Londoner accent. Only now and then did the slight drawl of the British upper class mark a bit of his speaking. "Quite glad to see you did decide to come. I know how chancy these meetings over the network can sometimes be for a young lady.
Offering Susan his arm, he continued, "What did you have in mind for this evening? My car is parked not far from here if you had a different destination in mind. I will rely on your superior local knowledge."