said Justin. “Don’t you, darling?” Alex gave a slow frowning nod of agreement and when Danny laughed slid a smile at him and held his eye for a second. “Some of us do,” he said. Justin noticed the contact and then took in Robin’s steady gaze across the table, the turned-down smile that said that he usually indulged him but tonight might side with the others. “I’m an angel when I’m drunk,” said Justin. It was the end of a long rich dinner, Danny clearing the dishes in the rational way of a trained waiter, leaving Justin with his spoiled helping of now cold pudding, which he eyed with baffled alarm, like an emblem of a life he couldn’t recall ordering. “You can take my spotted dick, darling,” he said; at which Alex alone laughed, out of a remembered habit. “Anyone for coffee?” said Robin loudly. “Or homegrown borage tea…?” “Come and sit on my knee,” said Justin, pawing vaguely at Danny’s passing leg. “I’m a bit busy at the moment, Justin. Doing the clearing up.”
