Page 183 of Love ad Lib
Libby: What?!
India: Hang on, I’ll take some pics of Foxy Mr Darcy…
India: [Close-up photo of Henry in a starched white collar]
India: [Photo of Henry, shirtless, sitting on the edge of a bed and holding a riding crop]
India: [Photo of Henry from the back, naked under a waterfall]
Libby: Oh my god!!!
India: I KNOW, RIGHT??????
India: I’ve no idea what they’re advertising, but fuck me, I’m buying one of everything.
Libby: Lolol. He’s really embarrassed about the whole thing. That’s why he hasn’t let me see the test shots.
India: Well, you need to find somewhere to hide him, because he’s the hottest thing on the interweb right now, and women are going to come looking for a big, long, hard piece of Foxy…
Libby: India!
India: I can’t believe you get to fuck him. He’s got two brothers, right? Are they fit? Single?
Libby: I don’t think they’re your type.
India: Bugger.
Libby: I’ve got to go. See you in a few weeks?
India: Yeah, yeah, I know exactly where you’ve got to go.
India: Off to ride your hot AF boyfriend.
India: Is that riding crop his?
India: And is that waterfall in Somerset?
India: I need to know these things.
India: Libby???
* * *
Henry strolled down Foxbrooke high street to meet Libby and Estelle, a contented smile on his face. Despite the continued difficulties managing the estate and his father, his heart had never felt so light. The financial hole they were in was deep, but he was confident that he and Estelle could save the Manor and turn things around.
Libby’s living history tours were bringing in more money than his dad’s sex parties. She’d taken the idea and run with it, talking to local schools about working with them and organising whole days devoted to period specific clothing, food and architecture. She was desperate to do a day on medicines with Dervla, although so far Connor had talked her out of using arsenic, lead and leeches.
Since the campaign for Simone’s fashion house, Henry had rarely stepped foot into the village. Foxbrooke was small, but it would take a while for the fuss to die down. It was mortifying what people yelled at him, but it had been worth it. First, for being able to get Libby’s money back, and second, for the effect the photos seemed to have on her. He was a sex god in her eyes and he was only too happy to prove her right.
However, last night she’d turned the tables on him, tying him to the four-poster bed and driving him insane. When she finally allowed him to come, the release was so powerful he was convinced he’d blacked out. Life was more than good, it was perfect.
He ducked his head to enter the café, spotting Libby with Estelle at a table near the back. His sister was on a mission to show her all the delights of the village, keeping up the hard sell to stop Libby getting bored and running back to London. He grinned as he crossed the room to join them. That wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
‘Oh my god, Henry!’ Libby squealed. ‘Guess what Estelle and I were just discussing!’
‘Um—’
‘She wants me to run a Jane Austen festival at the Manor!’ Libby was bouncing up and down in her chair.
