Possible Clues:

• Would take essence of arrowroot desultorily in retirement
• Did, once upon a time
• Familiar with ousted boss
• In the habit of playing duets with nothing on
• No longer startled by
• Did, formerly
• In the practice of
• Familiar with gripping, tense, uplifting poems you articulated
• In the habit of having you, me and Edward as well? Almost!
• Familiar with international being dropped off outside ground