What an excellent, believable version of Horace -- hedonistic and caring at the same time, self-absorbed and yet able (in his own way) to love. I enjoyed the aplomb with which he handled the public sex without missing a bite of summer pudding. There are so many fun and moving touches: Albus's "wicked" beard, the beard-jewellry (such a Horace touch), Wembelbee, the sadness of the "options open" scene, Horace's "slightly submissive" side, this line: sometimes there was creaky-old-man sex other times simply two warm naked bodies entwined. It wasn't always clear to him which he preferred
This He Who Must Not Be Named mess was completely out of hand. Just exactly what I can imagine Horace thinking.