Its part of the companions job to see amaster through his moods.Themaster has to address his moods himself first, though, doesnt he?Mother didnt wantto feel better until Reggie came back.No,she didnt, Martin agreed. Thank goodness for your uncle,then.Henrythought about his mothers unhappiness and her great and obviouslove of her younger brother. It did bother him that she hadntloved either Cora or himself enough to pull herself out of thedoldrums, but he was also so fond of Reggie that it made it easier toforgive Mother her preference.Hedid not think his parents would ever have a happy marriage, but sinceChristmas Mother had steadily brightened and grown stronger, and itseemed possible that she might one day want to take her rightfulplace at Fathers side, with all the responsibilities andadvantages that that would entail. Mrs. Murdock would surely never begone, not with her little boy and his presumptive blood ties to theBlackwells, but perhaps her importance could be downplayed.Asfor Pearl...Henry hoped that he would never put Martin in such aposition, despairing and unhappy and powerless to change hissituation. He had to take care of Martin. They had to take care ofeach other.Withthe thought of taking care of Martin, he returned to his vaguefantasy, the idea that there was a place where he could be completelyat ease with Martin, a place of benign judgment and infinitetolerance where a man might love his companion and be applauded andadmired for the purity of his feeling. Perhaps such a literalfairyland was too much to hope for, but surely there were moreoptions for queer gentlemen than he was aware of. While he had a hazysense of the liminal world where the likes of Reggie flitted to andfro, a place where one had freedom but was subject to disdain andcondescension, he wanted something better for Martin and himself.Henryfell into a restless sleep and dreamed of an accommodating version ofthe city where he and Martin made love in public and appreciativestrangers remarked on their skill and good fortune.OnThursday, Louis put pressure on Henry to get to the dancing schoolearly enough to see the girls as they were leaving. Once again, whenAbigail emerged, she came to where Albert stood with his friends andflirted with Henry, much to Louis' chagrinand Henry's.Whatis your slave called, Mr. Blackwell? She paused, but when Henry,who was taken aback by her question, did not answer, she continued.My Helena thinks him very handsome. Helena, standing justbehind her mistress, blushed but did not in any way indicate this wasuntrue.Henrycoughed. Uh, Martin. He's called Martin. He looked around forMartin, who was a few yards away talking with Peter and some otherslaves, and willed him to keep his distance.I'mso glad to know it, Abigail said, her dimple showing. Now ifHelena writes him a love note, she'll know whom to address it to.Henrydearly hoped that no love notes would be forthcoming. He did not wantto end up inadvertently courting Abigail DeWitt through the proxy ofa manufactured romance between Martin and her Helena.Atlast, Abigail retired to her carriage, taking the possibly-lovelornHelena with her, and the boys entered the school.Atthe last lesson, Mr. Gill had identified the