In a dark corner booth, Simon sat with three other members of the acting company, in a late-night drinking session. He drained his mug of ale and bellowed for the barmaid to bring him another.“So our Apollo thinks he’s too good for us,” he said.“He is too good for us,” Hetty said.“True.” Elysium sighed. “His manners were always so lovely.”Neville sneered. “What are you going on about? You hadn’t known him more than a few days, and he never gave you a second glance as far as I could tell.”Hetty snickered. “Do I detect a bit of jealousy?”“Perhaps I didn’t know Apollo very long, but he was always very gentlemanly to me,” Elysium retorted. “He never tried to take advantage, unlike some of the other men I know.”Neville folded his arms across his chest.“Well, Apollo’s fallen into a tub of butter, and I think he ought to share,” Simon said. “If we play our cards right, there might just be a grand payday in it for all of us.”Elysium frowned. “If you’re plotting something against Apollo, leave me out of it.
