I cannot blame you for that, but after a while I managed to shut it out. But first, here. Perhaps we'll find a way to muffle it from coming in, after cake and you opening your gift, what do you think?

[They were, after all, comfortable enough in silence together to work amiably! She offered him the box again. Within, a chocolate-on-chocolate truffle cake resided, decorated with a delightfully fancy Happiest of birthdays! in white icing.]