look so handsome ina green suit like mine, Henry suggested in a low voice. Withyour hair and your eyes.Really,Sir, Martin said, frowning in disapproval. Where would I wear asuit like that? Slaves dont wear fancy clothes, Sir, you knowthis.Henryhad vague notions of Martin and himself sitting in bohemian cafessipping wine or maybe demitasse cups of strong coffee, with Martindressed as a free man in a collar and tie, though in these imaginingsMartins beautiful hair was still worn long like a slaves.Dressingme like a free boy is a very romantic idea, Sir, Martin continued,his tone making it clear he didnt have a high opinion of suchromance. Im quite sure your father wouldnt approve!Henrybit his tongue and refrained from pointing out there were plenty ofthings Martin diddo very enthusiastically that Father wouldnt approve of, either.If Father were picking and choosing between wrong things, Henrysuspected hed rather see Martin in a green suit than see Henrysuck Martins cock.Youreso willful on this point, Sir, but youre not thinking of theproblems it would cause for me with the rest of the household. Mr.Tim would be very cross about it. Hed chastise me for not talkingyou out of it, you know.Butit wouldnt be your fault, Henry said. Not if it wassomething I told you to do.Martinshook his head. I should be able to dissuade you from making baddecisions, Sir.Henryrather thought the wearing of a beautiful suit was a harmlessindulgence of a masters whim, not a catastrophic bad decision, butdecided to drop the issue. For now. Willful and romantic, hesaid, keeping his voice light. Im terrible, arent I?Martinsnorted and gave him a crooked smile. Youre the worst, Sir.And when Henry reached for his hand, Martin squeezed his fingersever-so-briefly before withdrawing so that Henry felt hed gotten alittle of what he wanted after all.OnSaturday, anticipating that Uncle Reggie would be wearing somethingwonderful, Henry chose his most glamorous garments. He wore hisfavorite suit, the black-and-grey check, a black floral brocadewaistcoat, and an aubergine necktie about which his father hadwondered if it was in fact a mans tie and not some womanlyaccessory. If anyone was going to appreciate Henrys taste, itwould be Reggie.Youlook so handsome, Henry. Martin straightened the shoulders ofHenrys jacket and smoothed his lapels with proprietary pats.Martin looked wonderful as he was, but again Henry wished he coulddress him in regular clothes, something showier than his usual blackjacket and fawn trousers.Theywere to meet Reggie at one oclock. Although they might have takenthe brougham, Henry was afraid word would get back to Father thathed taken the carriage out, leading to a discussion of where hedtaken it and whom hed met. He didnt want to get either himselfor Reggie in trouble, so decided instead to take a cab, pulling a wadof bills from the tea tin to pay their fare.Martinhailed a cab, handed Henry inside, then climbed in after him. Heallowed Henry to hold his hand briefly, but pulled away when hebecame too concerned that someone might see. Henry settled forsitting in close proximity, their shoulders and knees touching asthey bounced over the cobbles.TheThird Eye Cafe was located downtown in the Village,