He relaxes a little once she’s settled in. He wonders if he will ever become fully at ease with the manners here; ironic that such a free and easy way of being should only make him more tightly wound. He would like that to not be the case.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Reagan—Alex.” Has he ever addressed by her first name a woman to whom he is not related? Not since childhood, he would guess. “And yes, you are quite right; I am new here. Dr Harry Goodsir, at your service.”

He starts to offer his hand, but stops when he realises that would probably mean having to move closer.