Page 184 of Love ad Lib
Estelle was grinning from ear to ear. ‘You’re going to have to get out your Mr Darcy costume again, little brother.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’
Libby’s hand was on her chest. ‘Oh. My. God. Yes!’ She was practically hyperventilating with excitement. ‘And people with VIP tickets get to watch you walking out of the lake.’
‘What?’
‘And we can auction off your shirt afterwards!’
‘Er—’
‘Ooh! Or, if we sell enough tickets to men, we could have a wet dress shirt competition,’ she continued, clearly on a roll.
He crossed his arms and glared at his sister. She shrugged and smirked back.
Ten minuteslater they started back towards the Manor and Libby still hadn't paused for breath.
‘We can have a bonnet-making workshop and maybe a reticule-making one, too. And at least one ball. Maybe a swooning competition? But only if we have crash mats, I don’t want anyone getting hurt. Maybe we could borrow the ones your dad uses for his parties? Well, after a thorough clean of course. Oh look! Isn’t that the guy you used to work with?’
Huh?Henry was only just keeping up with Libby’s stream of consciousness, but the end of her monologue didn’t quite fit.
He looked up. Walking towards them, staring at his phone, was James Hunter-Savage.
Henry stopped dead.
James glanced up just before he ran into them. ‘Foxy?’ he asked, looking surprised.
‘What the fuck are you doing here?’
‘Henry!’ Libby hissed. She turned to James, extending her arm. ‘James, right? You probably don’t remember me, but I did a workshop with you a few months ago at Conqueror.’
Recognition dawned on his face and he shook her hand. ‘Yes, I remember. What are you doing in Foxbrooke?’
‘None of your business,’ Henry snapped. ‘More to the point, what areyoudoing here?’
Libby grabbed his arm. ‘Henry! Please!’
‘I live here,’ James said.
‘No, you don’t,’ Henry replied, his blood boiling.
James smiled, but he didn’t look happy. ‘My family bought the estate on the other side of the river.’
Everything Henry wanted to say would upset Libby so he kept his mouth clamped shut.
James extended his hand to Estelle. ‘You must be Henry’s sister? I’m James.’
Estelle crossed her arms, her expression closed and hard. ‘I know exactly who you are,’ she replied. ‘And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from my family.’
James’s hand dropped to his side and a slow grin spread across his face. ‘I can’t promise that, foxy lady.’
Henry’s mouth opened at the same time as his sister’s, but before either of them could let rip, Libby forcibly dragged them away, back towards the Manor.
‘What is wrong with you two?’
‘Wrong?’ Estelle spat. ‘That “person” has been the bane of Henry’s life ever since school. Not to mention stealing his biggest client and trying to get into Summer’s pants.’
‘Maybe it was a misunderstanding? I know he comes across as a bit of a lad, but I’m sure it’s just because he’s insecure.’
