Sera made small talk with two people: one other wife, and one business associate of Henry's. She was slightly witty, but also used her old personality, purposefully boring the business associate before she excused herself to head inside to a powder room. Going through the Dempsey household almost-illicitly gave her a delightfully transgressive thrill, and she had not even actually done anything transgressive yet.

She could only hope that Dempsey had not minded waiting a quarter-hour for her.

She startled at the feeling of a hand on her waist, and then eased into it as soon as she recognized that it was him. "Oh," Sera said, placing one of her hands on his chest. "I don't suppose you could direct me to the powder room? A gentleman told me that it was a gorgeous spot."