Page 19 of Oz
He laughs and I hear his pen tapping. “Okay. How about Rupert? He drank all of Father’s port and then passed out in his study and we had to hide him behind the curtain when Father came home early.” He pauses. “Or Katy who got so drunk at Mother’s third wedding that she threw up over the wedding cake?”
I think hard, trying to conjure up their faces. “Okay, this is good. Although the latent theme of alcoholism in my dates isslightlyworrisome. Keep going.”
“Phillipa, who you dated for a couple of weeks. She came for a weekend and left wedding brochures lying around everywhere. Beatrice, who didn’t leaveanywedding brochures around because she was already married and whose irate husband made such a wonderful addition to my birthday weekend. Or the charming Freddie who took out a credit card in your name. If spending was an Olympic sport you’d have actually been able to claim that you’d slept with a champion.” I laugh and he pauses for a second. “Why am I doing this?” There’s a stunned silence and I know he’s going to come to the correct conclusion. When he speaks again his voice has gone high. “You’ve met someone.”
“Henry.”
“Oh shit. How bad is it?” He coughs. “Should I come down there and help? Wait. Wait. Don’t let them meet Mother until I can witness it. I need a good laugh.”
I shake my head. “Calm down. No one’s meeting anyone because there’s no reason.”
“Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you. Tell it to Mother.”
“She’s still in denial about my bisexuality. I’ll be dead by the time she comes round to it.”
“Or been eaten by feral cats.”
“What the fuck? I’m not that old. Anyway, the only cat we have is Mabel and she’s too fat and lazy to look at me as dinner.”
“Seriously, Silas. How bad could it be? I mean, I know you’ve had some bad luck–”
“He’s the new house manager.”
“Well shit, you’re fucking doomed then.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Iknow. I absolutely know that. It’s terrible timing and a shitstorm waiting to happen, but he’s just–”
“Just what?”
“Funny and alive.”
There’s a long silence before he speaks. “I’ve never heard you talk like that.”
“Pshaw. Of course you have.”
“No. No, I haven’t. You’ll talk about their faces or bodies or how they need you and that you can help them. But I’ve never heard you talk about someone like that.”
I shrug. “Well, nothing’s going to happen.”
He pauses. “Okay.”
I’m startled and a little disappointed by his ready acquiescence but I remind myself again that he knows me. “Anyway, I’m going,” I say. “How’s Ivo?”
“He’s fine.” I can hear the smile in his voice and it warms my chest. He’s been in love with our old stepbrother Ivo for years and they got together a couple of years ago. I’ve never seen a happier or more sarcastic couple. They make me smile.
“I love you,” I say affectionately.
“I love you too,” he says solemnly. “I’ll see you very,verysoon.”
“In the blink of an eye,” I return, the way we always used to quantify our separations when we were sent to different boarding schools.
I put the phone down, smiling, and look up as the door opens and Niall sticks his head round. “Quick, come on.”
I stand up. “What’s the matter? Where are we going?”
“Stable block. Oz has cornered Mr Johnson the builder. It’s a bit like Tyson versus Holyfield.”
“Shit,” I say, crossing the study quickly. Then I pause. “Who’s winning?”
