When he begins to speak, she can allow herself to imagine that he's speaking in very broad, very general terms. It's positively romantic, she thinks, until that whole never-knowing-when-to-shut-up problem that Arthur once pointed out surfaces again and she closes her eyes briefly... and decides to play stupid.

"I'm laying on my zip, I'm afraid," Mina whispers. "But I'm yours, love. Yours for the taking."