She held out her feet towards the blaze of the fire.
"No, thank you," she replied airily.

"They'll dry like this." As she spoke, she glanced up and encountered a sudden flash in his eyes like the keen flicker of a sword-blade.

Without vouchsafing any answer, he knelt down beside her and began to unlace her shoes, finally drawing them off and laying them sole upwards, in front of the fire to dry.

Then he passed his hand lightly over her stockinged feet.
"Wringing wet!" he remarked curtly.

"Those silk absurdities must come off as well." Sara sprang up.
"No!" she said firmly.