Irene folds her arms and smiles indulgently at her, waiting for a slightly more than modest amount to fill the glass before- "That'll do marvelously." She plucks the glass from the table and takes a sip, smiling at her over the rim of the glass.

"Delightful," she pronounces. "Both the wine and the house. Did your garden bear the brunt of recent events? I know my flat's in a state."