Candles flicker in glass holders on every available surface, and the walls are painted a rich, bold red.
There are only a few patrons scattered about the intimate space and plenty of empty tables. They sit at a
small table near the window. Marco waves at the woman behind the bar, who then brings them two glasses
of Bordeaux, leaving the bottle on the table next to a small vase holding a yellow rose.
As the rain patters gently against the windows, they converse politely about insubstantial things. Marco
volunteers very little information about himself, and Isobel responds in kind.
When he asks if she is hungry she gives a polite non-answer that betrays that she is famished. He
catches the attention of the woman behind the bar again, who returns a few minutes later with a platter of
cheese and fruit and slices of baguette.
