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To tell Susanna that Terry was thinking about her and wasn't coming up so he wouldn't make her sad, would certainly be definitely complicated. He will have to talk to her about his meeting with the actor and report what they say to each other. She could worry and ask for Terry. It would be better if she thinks he abandoned her, a total break up. She would probably suffer, but Neil would have less of a hard time to seduce her…

When he knocked on Susanna's door, Mrs. Marlowe was waiting for him. She was surprise to see him back so soon but he told her that his mother has agreed and that she would make sure someone comes to pick up Susanna in New York, the following week. In fact he was lucky; while getting out of the hospital with Candy, he had met his sister and his mother, back from the theatre, so he was able to speak to them outside, without having to go back to their hotel. Mrs. Marlowe asked to meet them and was surprised to see that they didn't come up, but he replied that they had left to go to bed early, because they were going back to Chicago the next day, while he had decided to stay put and take care of Susanna and make sure she had everything she needed.

Lying on the bed, Susanna was listening. She was thinking about Terry. He didn't even come to see her. Was he with Candy?

- Neil, did your sister give you any news about the play? Was Terry acclaimed? Everything went fine?

- Yes, it was a triumph. I'll buy you the paper tomorrow. Terry must be celebrating his triumph at the theatre.

- That's where Candy went?

- No, she went back to her hotel. My mother and my sister took her with the car.

A lie brings another lie, he didn't even realise that he would need to explain himself later, maybe the next day when Terry would come. But it will still be possible to get away with it with more lies.

Neil wanted to take advantage of his week in New York, far away from all those boring meetings and all those insipid young girls he was usually with. He was visualizing Wendy Harrington reciting poems on leeks per Eliza's request or Lizzie Miller talking to him about her harps lessons and he told himself that with Susanna, at least, he would be at peace. She was magnificent, less faded than all those living room plants and Eliza won't even be there to dictate him how to behave. Mrs. Marlowe could probably be difficult, but by showing her that he had money, properties and that he was part of the upper class, he was certain to wheedle her. It was anyway, the only technic he knew with girls.

In fact, Mrs. Marlowe's liking seemed pretty much more and more granted. She was foreseeing a happy future for her daughter and herself. They would go to Chicago, then to Florida. They would live in luxury. Neil even talked about buying a theatre in the heart of Chicago and naming it "The Susanna Marlowe theatre". He didn't even realise he was making up as he went along and that the deception risked being too cruel for the two women. He stupidly thought quite simply, that there was a part of truth in what he was telling and saying that his mother would really be pleased to host them. He had already forgotten half of Terry's warnings because they were not flattering at all for his pride.

It's only later, when he got back to his room he had rented on the first floor of the hospital, that he started thinking, assailed by all the accumulated thoughts of the day, he started crying:

"What have I done?"

This last hour, he had betrayed Terrence, Candy, told a huge web of lies on the sole purpose to please Mrs. Marlowe and assuring himself to be in Susanna's good grace. Nevertheless, he loved Susanna… but it was stronger than him. He was afraid she slip away from him, that she stays attached to Terrence Grandchester, that she could never love him. He had promised Terry to keep him posted, but now he hated that promise. It was like he had to answer to him ! He should've gone to see his mother like he intended to in the beginning. She would've understood. His mother always understood him; she cherished him, she would've received Susanna, especially since she was Eliza's friend. He was stupid to trust Candy and Terrence, his worst enemies, more than his family. As for Eliza and the chauffeur… It was a mockery of that damn actor! He had spent his time putting him down and Neil had let him do it, surely because of Candy's presence had intimidated him; otherwise, he would brought him down a peg or two.

Neil started thinking about Candy, then about Eliza and then about Susanna. He was certain he wasn't going to hurt Susanna and that he loved her. All the rest seemed confusing. He still had Susanna's sweet face in mind when he finally fell asleep.