Green eyes get mentioned first, and how quickly she settles a room gets mentioned second. Laura is 169 cm with an athletic build and light brown hair worn long, sun-kissed at the tips after a summer spent outdoors. Mid twenties. She dresses without ceremony for Paddington evenings: something simple, a coat that works in the rain, and no attempt to look like she is trying.

She speaks English, fluently and without hurry, and has a natural gift for the small practical kindnesses that make a long evening comfortable. She cycles across town rather than taking taxis, climbs indoors twice a week, and has a habit of collecting facts about whatever city she is in. She is direct without being blunt. If she disagrees with you she will say so, and then ask you to explain yourself properly. None of it is unkind, and none of it is for effect.

A W2 evening with her often starts upstairs at The Frontline Club, Norfolk Place, in the quiet room above the members' bar with photographs on every wall and food that takes itself seriously without being solemn. She likes the table near the window. Paddington is the district she lives in, so if your train got in late and you want to eat within four minutes of your hotel, she already knows which four minutes to use.

Late trains do not bother her, so a nine o'clock start after a delayed arrival is normal rather than a favour. The Paddington page covers the station, the hotels around it and the other women on the list. A date, a time and a hotel sent to booking gets answered the same day.

Nothing has been written up under Laura yet, which is usually what discretion looks like. A note goes on the board only when a client sends one in writing, she agrees to it, and the office has checked that it reads as a first name, a month and nothing private.