[Barnaby stepped out into the rain and had just started to unfurl his own umbrella-- also red-- when he heard the woman's teasing voice. He kept his reaction in check, fully aware of the image he must have made for her.

His friends had the strangest tastes sometimes.

Sighing, he looked up and smiled for the woman.]

It's nothing like that at all, Miss. It's a gift from my friends back home, and I didn't want to show them any disrespect by leaving it here.