aggrieved.Prescottushered them deeper into the store. As it happens, when I spoke toTimothy earlier in the week, he suggested you might be interested inwaistcoats. Weve set aside some options for you in a fittingroom.Thefitting room was large and well-lit. There was a couch along theright-hand wall, a three-panel mirror at the end of the room, and awheeled garment rack hung with a plethora of waistcoats on the left.Two-thirds of them were colorfula riot of color, in factand thefinal third were black.Please,Prescott said, ushering them in. Please take a look at what weveselected for you, and Ill send for some refreshments.Coffee,please, if you have it, Henry said. Well both have coffee.Verywell, said Prescott. If youll just excuse me.Martinhelped Henry out of his overcoat and hung both it and his own onhooks beside the door.Henryapproached the colorful end of the rack and saw out of the corner ofhis eye that Martin was approaching the black waistcoats with bothinterest and trepidation.Iknow you want to follow the rules, Henry said. But I want youto have special things, too.Iappreciate the sentiment, Sir. Martin took a garment off of therack and held it in the light, examining the weave. I-Im notentirely opposed to special things. He smiled and held out thewaistcoat for Henry to see. This is very nice, for instance.Itwas a brocade of chrysanthemums on a background of stripes,black-on-black, dull and shiny textures. In wearing it, half-hiddenbehind a jacket, the elaborate fabric would nearly be a secret.Trythat one on, Henry urged. On his end of the rack he found a deeppink floral, a silk twill printed with heavy-headed, blowsy flowers,tulips and roses and peonies, that flopped hither and yon withsensual abandon. What do you think of this?Martinsmouth dropped open and his eyes went wide. He recovered quickly.Its...certainly colorful, Sir.Isit too much, then?Well,it would be too much for me, Sir, Martin admitted. I think itwould be too much for just about anyone.Ilove it, Henry said happily. Im going to try it on. Help mewith my jacket. He held his arms back expectantly and Martinhurried to remove the jacket for him, then removed his own and laidthem both over the arm of the couch. Henry unbuttoned his suitwaistcoat and shrugged it off and let Martin take it from his hand.Here,Henry said, holding out the floral waistcoat. Help me.Martinheld it so that Henry could slip his arms through. As Henry wasbuttoning it over his stomach, there was a crisp rap at the door.Maywe come in, Mr. Blackwell?Please,Henry said, admiring himself in the mirror. Hed never seenanything quite like this waistcoat! The pattern was so lush, sodecadent! He suspected that Father would hate it, and that made himlike it all the more.Prescottcame in behind a shop assistant pushing a cart with a coffee pot anda tiered plate with cookies and little cakes.Youwear clothes so well, Mr. Blackwell, Prescott remarked. Thatpattern would overwhelm most men.Withoutbeing asked, Martin prepared a cup of coffee for Henry, and Henryfelt a surge of affection for him.Tryyours on, Martin, he said again. I want to see you in somethingspecial.Certainly,Sir. Martin shed his plain black waistcoat and took