Page 26 of Love ad Lib
‘The Dower House.’ Marie, his grandmother’s live-in nurse and companion, answered.
‘Marie, it’s Henry. Is Gram-Gram awake?’
‘Good morning, Henry. Yes, she is, I’ll put you through.’
There was a pause, then his grandmother spoke. ‘Henry, my darling boy. I take it Catriona has been in touch?’
‘How—’
Her laugh was deep and throaty. ‘My dear child, why else would you be ringing on a Wednesday? Our calls are always on a Sunday afternoon.’
‘Gram-Gram, I don’t need help finding a girlfriend.’
She sniffed. ‘Well, that’s patently untrue. You’re nearly thirty and still single. Your father was married with a brood of children by that age, as was I with your grandfather.’
‘Things are different now.’
‘Really? Has the human race modernised so dramatically that procreation is no longer necessary?’
‘I haven’t really thought about kids.’
‘Clearly,’ she replied, her tone acidic enough to burn through lead. ‘However, it needs to be at the forefront of your mind. If you don’t produce issue, your cousin Rupert will inherit your father’s title, and you know what I think of that prospect.’
The Dowager Duchess had her favourites amongst the grandchildren, and Rupert was not one of them.
‘Gram-Gram. You can’t say that.’
She sniffed again. ‘Why not? I’m nearly eighty. I can say what I like.’
He couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth twitching upward. ‘That’s true.’
‘Darling, let Catriona do her job. You need to find a partner in life.’
‘Why does no-one believe I have a girlfriend?’
‘Ah yes,Elizabeth. Did you use my name in a panic because no others came to mind? If she does exist, then you must produce her.’
‘I will.’
‘When? Once Eveline’s pigs start flying over the church?’
‘I’ll bring her when I next visit,’ he replied, knowing that it would be months away, most likely Christmas.
‘Splendid. For the entirety?’
Entirety of what?‘Er.’ He could hear distant cries coming from a piece of information he’d left at the back of his mind.
‘Marvellous. We’ll be seeing you and Elizabeth for the duration of our birthday celebrations in nine days' time.’
Oh god. Oh god, oh god, oh god.
‘See you then, my darling boy, and give my fondest regards to Elizabeth,’ his grandmother said before cutting the call.
He stared at his phone. What the fuck was he going to do now? Could he ring Elizabeth and beg her to come with him? He dismissed the idea immediately. Could Catriona find him someone at short notice?No. His grandmother would find out. His phone pinged with a message.
Libby: It’s a girl! She was born about an hour ago in one of the pools so she’s officially half mermaid. If she’d been a boy, I think they would have called her Henry, but she’s called Harper, which is close enough. Claire’s knackered but doing well, and Harper is so adorable I think I’m melting. Ritchie can’t stop crying, which is super cute, but I think it’s due to severe sleep deprivation on top of becoming a daddy. Anyway, thank you again! Photo coming up now xxx
A baby with a scrunched-up face and pink bobble hat appeared on the screen. Another picture followed of Libby holding Harper, her eyes shining.
