In fact, he was still mulling the entire scene over in his mind as he hurried from the theater to Suzette's charming house in Kensington. Far too experienced a woman of the world to complain at her lover's delay, the dancer welcomed him with as much evidence of delight as if she had not received his note earlier that day warning her of his change in plans. "I do apologize, sweetheart, but Reginald is making such a cake of himself that he must be watched. How any relative of mine could be so wet behind the ears, I cannot fathom, but then, he is Alfred's son." It was a relief to relax in Suzette's delightful sitting room before the fire while she took his coat and handed him a glass of port, smiling sympathetically at him. Taking her cue from Justin's abstracted air, she sat quietly and patiently while he turned over in his mind the variety of thoughts and impressions of the evening. It was not Reginald's situation that was bothering her visitor, Suzette thought to herself. St. Clair was far too different from the rest of his family and far too bored by them to become truly embroiled in their concerns, no matter how much they might try to thrust them upon him.
