Ford was aware that Mama had been well-intentioned this entire conversation, but this was the first comment she'd made that actually hit the mark. He smiled, a little more softly than the forced smile from a moment earlier. "Keeping a plate warm would be nice," he agreed. It relieved the pressure of needing to be back at a certain time to avoid the whole family waiting around for him at the dinner table and (even worse) discussing where he might be or what he might be up to. Finally, then, some portion of this conversation was going his direction. Maybe he could even count on Mama as an ally tonight, if he did end up staying out later than intended to deal with the wardrobe situation; she could fend off the questions from Verity about where he'd run off to.
"I wouldn't want to hold everyone else up if I'm running late," he continued, with another quick smile. "But thank you, Mama. I ought to go," he added, with a glance towards the nearest clock. It wasn't as though he was in any danger of being late to work, but neither was it so early that it would attract attention if he showed up at the Ministry. Getting an earlier start on his work today could only be a good thing, because it might mean he could sneak out a little earlier to deal with the wardrobe (once he'd figured out what he was actually going to do about it, of course).
"I wouldn't want to hold everyone else up if I'm running late," he continued, with another quick smile. "But thank you, Mama. I ought to go," he added, with a glance towards the nearest clock. It wasn't as though he was in any danger of being late to work, but neither was it so early that it would attract attention if he showed up at the Ministry. Getting an earlier start on his work today could only be a good thing, because it might mean he could sneak out a little earlier to deal with the wardrobe (once he'd figured out what he was actually going to do about it, of course).
Set by Lady!