The energy in the room had changed immediately, as Ben had suspected it would. Aldous might very well make disparaging remarks about his character, particularly in the heat of irritation, but no one in the family was going to take kindly to disparaging comments about November. Ben hesitated only half a second before continuing; while he didn't relish the idea of repeating the remark, Aldous was hardly a blushing debutante, and perhaps actually hearing it would make him realize how inevitable this duel was.

"He said he wanted to fuck her," Ben said in a measured tone, watching his brother's reaction. "Not my word, his. 'Fuck.' And he said that to my face. In public." The implication, of course, was obvious. If this was the sort of thing Macmillan would say to November's own brother, what might he be saying elsewhere?

Wanting, of course, didn't mean anything — but there was something about the way Macmillan had said it that had given Ben the impression there was something behind it besides just a lewd remark. Not that Ben thought November would ever entertain the idea, but — well, someone who didn't know her so well might, if Macmillan went around talking like that.