Both her tone and her countenance had hardened, which told him she was no longer playing the fool to their discussion, but also suggested something more about her character, something Max supposed he would do well to note.
He was careful to take his time in replying, careful not to lose his cool at the pointed barb about him. A change of tack, then, an imperturbable smile. She didn't know what she was talking about; it was only instinct that she would take her sister's side, instinct and the new potential that Nicky was here, all but whispering in her sister's ear, distorting the facts for her own gain. "Oh, you mistake me, Mrs. Devine," Maximilian replied, reverting to his earlier pleasant tone. "I am sure he is a perfect gentleman. It is not your husband's character I am concerned about." No, it was very clear whose character he meant to disparage. "But you would have been too young, at the time, to have heard the half of it..." He trailed off with something of a sigh, hoping that might be a start to untying some of the knotty preconceptions she must have in her head. He, the disappointing husband, as though he were the villain and not the victim here. Ridiculous.
"So stirring up the past will do none of us any favours, as I'm sure you see." Max continued smoothly. Nicolina's presence here could so easily be the downfall of Mrs. Devine's bubble of newlywedded happiness - and both families' reputations, never mind Max's own. (Of course, it was mostly his own about which he was concerned.) "We want the same things - I only thought to warn you of that, and the difficulties you might find yourself in if you invite the past in too readily."
(And did her husband already know? He could not say for certain.)
He was careful to take his time in replying, careful not to lose his cool at the pointed barb about him. A change of tack, then, an imperturbable smile. She didn't know what she was talking about; it was only instinct that she would take her sister's side, instinct and the new potential that Nicky was here, all but whispering in her sister's ear, distorting the facts for her own gain. "Oh, you mistake me, Mrs. Devine," Maximilian replied, reverting to his earlier pleasant tone. "I am sure he is a perfect gentleman. It is not your husband's character I am concerned about." No, it was very clear whose character he meant to disparage. "But you would have been too young, at the time, to have heard the half of it..." He trailed off with something of a sigh, hoping that might be a start to untying some of the knotty preconceptions she must have in her head. He, the disappointing husband, as though he were the villain and not the victim here. Ridiculous.
"So stirring up the past will do none of us any favours, as I'm sure you see." Max continued smoothly. Nicolina's presence here could so easily be the downfall of Mrs. Devine's bubble of newlywedded happiness - and both families' reputations, never mind Max's own. (Of course, it was mostly his own about which he was concerned.) "We want the same things - I only thought to warn you of that, and the difficulties you might find yourself in if you invite the past in too readily."
(And did her husband already know? He could not say for certain.)
