Ordinarily Phryne would be enjoying the permissive atmosphere of the day, even if the decoration was a little too earnest for her taste. She certainly appreciated the lack of tsking, scolding, and turned up noses (although it did make her miss Aunt Prudence). In that respect, the future proved congenial.

But in another, the respect that seemed to have unleashed her gentlemanly inspector's liberal sentiments, it was anything but. Still, she kept her expression pleasant and her lipstick perfect while she investigated the compulsion he and River Song had apparently been under.