If it looked as though he had paused to drink in the room, it was the faintest pretence of it: he was too struck by the woman before him to divide his attentions elsewhere. She had been a girl, before, barely more than Nicky's shadow. Now she was closer to Nicky's twin. The same dark hair, the same face.
All that was missing was the smirk. This Miss Dippet - Ophelia Devine, as she was now - was only smiling, a polite facade, her words nondescript, perhaps a play at innocence. That was fine. Max had every intention of letting this encounter be a civil one.
"On and off since the summer, in fact," Max explained lightly, with a vague gesture of his hand. "Business." Business of a few sorts - although business had taken something of a backseat since he'd seen her lurking around at that ball.
"You must forgive me. I've been far too careless about keeping in touch, I realize," he added, apologetic, shooting her a smile back as though he felt the slightest sense of attachment towards what was left of his former family-in-law. On the other hand, he hadn't felt any ill will towards them until the idea had become apparent that they were not so divorced of Nicky as they had seemed for the last few years. As it was, with Nicky probably under this very roof - "But all the same, I cannot imagine you are surprised to see me?" Would she try to feign it, more obliviousness? That Nicky hadn't told her everything - that she could not fathom exactly why he was here?
All that was missing was the smirk. This Miss Dippet - Ophelia Devine, as she was now - was only smiling, a polite facade, her words nondescript, perhaps a play at innocence. That was fine. Max had every intention of letting this encounter be a civil one.
"On and off since the summer, in fact," Max explained lightly, with a vague gesture of his hand. "Business." Business of a few sorts - although business had taken something of a backseat since he'd seen her lurking around at that ball.
"You must forgive me. I've been far too careless about keeping in touch, I realize," he added, apologetic, shooting her a smile back as though he felt the slightest sense of attachment towards what was left of his former family-in-law. On the other hand, he hadn't felt any ill will towards them until the idea had become apparent that they were not so divorced of Nicky as they had seemed for the last few years. As it was, with Nicky probably under this very roof - "But all the same, I cannot imagine you are surprised to see me?" Would she try to feign it, more obliviousness? That Nicky hadn't told her everything - that she could not fathom exactly why he was here?
