Many thanks for all the lovely reviews. The meeting - as is the tendency of meetings - goes on.

It took a thoroughly confounded Ruth a few seconds to recover herself. A task expedited by Harry's commenting in a strictly neutral voice, "I thought you might recognise her." Although he had avoided any hint of self satisfaction in his tone, nontheless his words had the effect of ensuring that Ruth exchanged astonishment for fury, galvanized by an erroneous perception that Harry had exercised his managerial superiority with the sole intention of wrong footing her in public. Restraining an overwhelming desire to shout her resentment aloud she responded waspishly,

"I'm surprised, knowing how she used to declaim against arranged marriages."

Harry didn't get the opportunity to reply, due to his being forestalled by Ros drawling, "According to the available Intel the only person to arrange the marriage was Aisha herself."

"Which'…Harry's hasty interruption, intended to reinforce his role as the operation head before his authority was usurped, inadvertently created the impression that he was forming a double act with Ros. An implication that made Ruth's scowl deepen even further as he finished his explanation, "Explains why Ali's uncle would like to disrupt the proceedings."

While Harry's motive in intervening had been a purely profession impulse, combined with the secondary objective of avoiding a lengthy meeting, it hadn't escaped his notice that Ruth's customary frostiness towards his good – okay not so good – self had finally been pierced by a mounting air of anger. Having just about given up all hope of smashing down those walls of glacial formality, a small part of his brain was frantically searching for an explanation of this phenomenon.

Jealously!

Dear God! Could she possibly be imagining that he was romantically interested in the acerbic Ms Myers? While he most certainly was not - for choice he'd rather bed a boa constrictor - it said much about the state of his relationship with Ruth that he found the notion that she was not indifferent to his making overtures to another woman vaguely heartening. For the moment though he continued to address his longed for beloved as if he had remained oblivious to this slight sea change in attitude,

"Aisha has been advised that she needs extra security. She was reluctant to accept this, until we mentioned your name."

"But I'm not a field officer…."

Harry had anticipated this protest as he smacked back with, "You don't have to be …as I've already explained we have a large number of security personnel available. You are simply required to watch out for anything, or anyone, within the wedding party striking a false note and alert us." Adding with a sudden inspiration, "Consider it an alternative form of analysis".

Ruth's intention of arguing over the finer points of her job description were stymied by Zoe adding soothingly, "We'll all be there for you Ruth, and besides you were terrific with Giles…." A piece of deserved praise that Harry terminated with a sharp, "Exactly." Preferring that all references to the Giles Bamford-Smythe operation were redacted, especially with regard to Adam and Ros.

In this endeavour he was aided by Ros sharply taking charge again, "If that is settled then Ruth needs to make an appointment with a stylist", and if she detected the bristling hostility this statement had created she ignored it, until Danny expostulated, "Why?" and then wished he hadn't as the confident spiky Ros Myers announced her reasons

"The company that Ruth is infiltrating consists almost exclusively of individuals who are top drawer and monied. They will hardly be fooled if Aisha's newly emerged best friend turns up looking like...…" Whatever insulting simile she was about to employ being blocked by Harry's opinion, "Ruth's style of dress is perfectly acceptable normally but for undercover…" ignoring the rest of the room he manged a brief eye contact, registering her hurt and anger at this limited endorsement as he wound up with, "Think of it as your undercover disguise Ruth." In this sorry effort to pacify Ruth he was once again aided by Zoe who, not impressed by the perceived slight to a colleague she admired, also attempted neutralise the sting, "Lucky you Ruth – brand new designer clothes." With the afterthought of asking Harry, "Does she get to keep them?"

Despite Ruth still looking less than thrilled Harry managed a general smile to the room. "Of course, I doubt they would be much use to anyone else." Privately considering that, while he loved the way Ruth usually dressed, the prospect of seeing her quiet beauty framed in well fitting expensive clothes was enticing. A vision that even the bossy voice of Ros Myers interjecting yet again, failed to ruin. "I'll give you list of what you'll need, and someone used to designer and high end fashion chains should accompany you."

Adam, who had been sitting quietly taking his bearings, was far from comfortable with Ros' approach. This was their first meeting with the team they would have to work with. Not only was her general demeanour profoundly unendearing, she had just capped her border line offensiveness by insulting the analyst, a process that anyone with a smidgen of sensitivity would realise had created the knock on effect of irritating the rest of the Grid staff, with whom Ruth was clearly a favourite. Also, unlike Ros Myers, he'd been watching Harry closely and had detected a hint of protective instinct whenever he snatched a glance in the direction of Miss Evershed. Deciding that the rising emotions needed to be damped down, and before Ros could nominate herself as Ruth's escort, a suggestion that he judged would be about as welcome as a roast beef sandwich at a vegetarian convention, he intervened, "Harry, could I suggest that perhaps my wife accompanies Ruth, she's between assignments at present and…"

An offer that Harry, having once met the very attractive, pleasant and well dressed Fiona Carter at some interminable meeting - admittedly that occasion had also included Oliver Mace beside whom anyone would look decorative - accepted with alacrity, "Thank you Adam." Before either Ruth or Ros could create any further ripples he moved to conclude the meeting, "Site visit tomorrow, 10.00 am, after which Ruth can go shopping. Any further questions?"

Having made this a rhetorical statement to his astonishment it was Ruth, who he thought would be desperate to escape, who enquired, "The marriage Harry – is it purely Islamic or are they also having a civil ceremony?"

Reluctantly Harry was forced to defer on this one, "Ros."

Ros, while surprised that the mouse had squeaked, was reminding herself that if Ruth wasn't at the top of the game Harry Pearce would not be tolerating her presence, produced an incisive answer,

"We are still checking the timetable so we think it is the Islamic ceremony first and then later a smaller more private ceremony to make it legal under English law."

Ruth had a follow on query, "Sharia or…"

"Part of the reason why we are concerned about the uncle. He's not as extreme as some, but tends that way – certainly he disapproves of women who have ideas of their own. Thankfully he is not attending."

If more than one individual around the table was wondering what fireworks may have ensued had the absent uncle encountered the praying mantis that was Ros Myers, in the interests of a smooth start to the operation they employed discretion to remain as silent as the grave all spooks hoped not to be dispatched into.

Thanks for reading. If you have a few moments a review would be appreciated. I may not be able to respond to them immediately as I will be away for a few days.