Brooke started. She hadn't been expecting...well, she'd been expecting him to sneak up on her, but she hadn't been expecting him to sneak up on her.

Brooke held still and smiled. "The cranberry orange ones are my favourite," she said softly. "The perfect marriage of fruit for August. Summer's fading, and autumn's just around the corner." She didn't turn back to look at Athos quite all the way, but she did turn her head a few degrees to the right. "Would you allow me to pour you a cup of tea? I'd appreciate the company."