While writing the previous comic, I very, VERY briefly considered having Grace deliberately hug Ellen to capitalize on the rumors about them, and to imply to Conan that she and Ellen were a couple.

I would like to emphasize how very brief this consideration was, because that would be alarmingly out of character for Grace.

Out of character ideas will sometimes give way to very much in character ones, however, and Grace just happily hugging Ellen without even thinking about it is very much in character.