"If I know anything, it's that older brothers are other often hard to sway opinions from. Perhaps down the road, things will be different." At least his merchant was still alive, Demetri thought to himself, his face growing a bit sadder.
"Ah my story," he said, forcing a smiling and downing half his glass of port. "I went to school in Paris, met a wonderful student who opening my eyes to things merely in front of me. His family disapproved to the extent that they had me blackmailed to force my hand and promise never to see him again. Later there was word that he had died.
And now I'm back in England permanently, trying to find out what to do other than gamble and spend time at the wrong sorts of theatre." Demetri laughed a little but it wasn't completely happy, though he was feeling good from the quick succession of port he and his companion were consuming.