A wave from across the dance floor caught her attention now, and, privately, Hannah was rather glad of the excuse. Mr. Mulciber in his own right was rather surprisingly fine company, but theirs was not so intimate an acquaintance that she had any idea how to navigate out of the rough harbour their conversation had sailed into.

"It seems, Mr. Mulciber, that I have proved an excellent human shield," she remarked brightly instead. "You wouldn't take it personally if I left you to the wilds now, would you?"

The blonde head gestured in her friend's direction.