Page 170 of Love ad Lib
Lucas: I sold ALL of them…
Libby braced herself against the table as a tidal wave of nausea crashed through her. How could Arthur afford that when the estate was in trouble? She tried to control her breathing. The thought of the Manor filled with all those vulva paintings was too much to bear.
Libby: Who to?
Lucas: Dubois. The fashion house in Paris.
Henry’s aunt? Why?
Lucas: It’s a sign, Lib-Lob. I’ve got to move to France. London’s too small for someone like me.
Libby: You’re moving to Paris?
Lucas: Yep. The paintings got shipped there an hour ago after the final legal bullshit was sorted.
Libby: When?
Lucas: Dunno? This week? I think I’m just gonna skip. My landlord’s an arsehole anyway. He doesn’t deserve any more of my hard-earned cash for his piece of shit studio.
She didn’t know what to say. Lucas’s behaviour wasn’t any different to how it had been before. How had she ever thought so highly of him?
Lucas: Wish me luck babe X
Libby: How did Dubois get in touch with you? Why did they want to buy all of them?
He didn’t reply.
Estelle was waitingaround the back of Bath Spa station with her Land Rover Defender. All the mud had been washed off the exterior.
She pulled Libby in for a hug. ‘I cleaned her up for you. And covered the passenger seat, so I promise you won’t get dirty.’
Chester and Joy were in the back, barking with excitement.
Libby smiled. She’d even missed the family’s pets.
‘Are they really that excited to see me?’
Estelle wiggled her eyebrows. ‘Maybe it’s because you smell of pussy.’
She snorted. ‘He’s calledMrPussy.’
‘Well, at least we all know what passes through my little brother’s mind every time he looks at you.’
‘Estelle!’ She glanced around the small car park to check no-one was around.
‘What?’
Libby rolled her eyes. ‘Do you want me to do this tour or not?’
‘Yes, yes, yes.’ Estelle opened the passenger door and shoved her in.
As they parkedoutside the Manor, Libby couldn’t help but feel a crushing sense of disappointment that Henry's car wasn’t there. Even though she knew he was still abroad, she wanted to dream that he’d cut his trip short and come home to find her.
‘You might as well dump your bag in Henry’s room,’ Estelle said. ‘I’ve laid your costume out there, and I’ll help you into it before I head back to the livery.’
‘You’re not staying?’ she asked, suddenly worried about being left all alone in the Manor.
Estelle pulled a face. ‘No, sorry, I’ve got too much to do. I’ll be back by the end though.’ She passed Libby a piece of paper with notes scrawled on one side. ‘Based on what you did last time, I think this itinerary will take about three hours. Perry will be in the kitchen making biscuits, and I’ve set up croquet on the back lawns so you can finish with everyone there.’
