Simon was caught off guard. She communicated—in a flash, with a mock demure look—a picture that was much more full-on than he’d expected. He was surprised to find himself offended. Will was demanding, yes; even difficult sometimes, but in a league of his own. Uniquely himself, a copy of no one. He’d always believed Siân knew this too; and here she was selling him a new lover’s credentials. A bit low, he thought, but he said what he didn’t truly mean from a long habit of finding good manners when they were needed. “As long as you’re happy, Siân; I think you deserve that. You got through the break without losing your dignity or your cool. Don’t rub it in Will’s face, though—unless you want to see if he’s jealous?”

“Simon…” She hesitated in a way that was completely foreign for someone who had Siân’s confidence. “He’s…I was just saying…related to Will…” She swallowed some wine while Simon tried to decide how he would cope with the idea, suddenly flooding his mind, that she was somehow going to tell him she had started seeing the blonder, rather intriguing Alexander. What appalling taste. But Alex wouldn’t let this happen, surely? Would Siân be his type? No, don’t be absurd; of course, she’d already said he was an American, hadn’t she? What a ridiculous leap of the senses, he thought, and winced unconsciously. Who was it then?

“Calvin is a cousin of Will’s. At least, they’ve never actually met, but his mother and Will’s are cousins.” While she tried to untangle the branches of Will’s mother’s family tree, Simon relaxed and could hear properly again; his heart was no longer pounding against the casing of his brain. He didn’t care about this—and it wouldn’t bother Will either. Strange, even a bit kinky perhaps? Yes, it was a little on the kinky side—but it was unquestionably better than putting on Mahler’s Fifth and opening a vein. His mind picked up her commentary again.

“…And when he came to London to study this summer, he wanted to look them all up. Apparently the cousins exchanged Christmas cards and the odd letter, but not much more; and when Diana died early this year, and Calvin’s mum couldn’t make it over for the funeral, Calvin thought it would be the right thing to pay them a visit, and to say sorry in person—you know. It’s the kind of well-mannered thing he does. And the funny part is, he knocked on my door, and Will had already gone off to Italy, and Alex was away lecturing in some country or other…”

Simon was nodding again, blood had returned; Will could handle this.