"No, by all means." Hannibal indicated the sitting area, which was nicely appointed, and took a chair himself, sitting close to River. It wasn't bad news, Lindsey said, so he hoped that the man was not about to tell them something only a lawyer would only see as good. Hannibal knew that there could be some things that River would still see as devastating, and that would upset him.
"Please, I think we'd all prefer it if you didn't preface this with any buts or in this case scenarios. If you could be blunt and straightforward about whatever news you carry, it would make me very happy." Hannibal enunciated the word happy to indicate how very unhappy he'd be otherwise.