Page 119 of Love ad Lib
‘My dear, there’s no need to take that tone with me. Your job is to persuade him his life belongs here. He needs to stop being so selfish and self-absorbed. If not, he’ll end up like his good-for-nothing father.’
Fuck it. They were leaving for London tomorrow. Today was the last time Libby would ever set foot in Foxbrooke and the last time she would see Henry’s grandmother. She was going out in a blaze of glory.
‘My lady, you are mistaken.’
‘Hardly.’
‘Yes, you are. Henry and his father are not self-absorbed.Youare.’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Henry’s father has been nothing but welcoming and kind to me. His love for his son is deep and self-evident. While his marriages may be unconventional, I’ve seen more support and affection between Henry’s parents than I have witnessed in most relationships.’
‘Have you now?’
‘And as for Henry, I’ve never before met a man so deeply caring and committed to the well-being of others at the expense of himself. Yes, he’s not yet willing to move back home, but it appears the rest of the family have the estate well in hand. He has worked for years to support his youngest sister’s education and for that he should be applauded. Henry is the most moral, upright, kind and generous man I have ever had the fortune to meet, and you should be incredibly proud of the man he has become.’
Her heart was roaring in her ears, her chest heaving with every breath. How fuckingdareshe criticise him like that?
The two women stared at each other as Henry burst into the room holding a paper bag. ‘Here you are,’ he wheezed.
Gram-Gram peered at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘That was faster than I expected.’
Henry looked at Libby, frowning. ‘Is everything okay?’
She plastered on a smile. ‘Yes, we were just discussing your many,manyvirtues.’ She levelled a death stare at his grandmother. ‘Weren’t we, my lady?’
Gram-Gram reached for her cane, and Henry helped her up.
‘Thank you, dear, I’ll see you out.’ She looked at Libby. ‘You run along. I require a moment alone with my grandson.’
Libby gave her a curt nod and strode out of the room, seething.
She exited the house and drew in lungfuls of sweet summer air. Gram-Gram had just acted like the worst of her class. Like Giles, and the kind of person Lucas criticised all the time.
Henry stepped out of the front door and closed it behind him. ‘What happened?’
She turned on her heel, marching down the drive towards the Manor.
He caught her up. ‘What did you say to her?’
‘The truth. Whether she wanted to hear it or not.’Fuck. She’d really blown it. She sneaked a glance at Henry. He looked relaxed and happy. ‘What did she just say to you?’
He smiled. ‘She said you were perfect, and that if I let you go, there would be hell to pay.’
Libby stopped. ‘She saidwhat?’
His forehead creased. ‘Why would she say otherwise?’
Her mouth hung open. ‘I don’t know. But I think I’ve just been played by your granny.’
Henry grinned. ‘You wouldn’t be the first. She’s the wiliest fox in Foxbrooke.’
That afternoonthe family decamped to the riverbank where a bonfire had been set up for the evening. The Foxbrooke river was fairly small and meandering, but there was a weir that had created a natural pool behind it. Stone steps led down into the water and further up the bank, there was a platform and a rope swing for leaping into the deepest part of the water. Libby borrowed a swimming costume from Willow and swam with Henry before lazing on a lilo as he pushed her up and down the small stretch of river under the canopy of trees.
‘Is it always like this?’ she asked, as she watched the green leaves sparkle in the sunshine.
He hesitated before replying. ‘No.’
