After several minutes he poured its contents into a beaker and drank heavily from it, instantly topping up the beaker and drinking until the bottle was empty whereupon he called for another.

His head was spinning as he watched a gentleman sit down opposite him and it took him a moment to realise that it was his uncle. The older man folded his arms and surveyed his nephew critically.

“I have waited a long time for you to come to your senses about alcohol.” He poured out a beaker, before he drank straight from the bottle. “This was not how I imagined you would do it. You have upset a good many people, Henry.”

“I am sure the list is not as long as your own.”

“Then this is about Miss Simmons?”

“She is Mrs. Allen, now,”...

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