Page 60 of Love ad Lib
There was an icy pause. ‘In what way?’
‘Your son, Henry, was thoughtful and polite, sensible and kind.’ Libby glanced at Henry. ‘Just like his nephew.’
The Dowager Duchess gazed with affection at her grandson. ‘Yes. That is all true. My son was the finest of men, and Henry lives up to his name.’
Gram-Gram reached for his hand. ‘Come here, darling boy.’
He kissed his grandmother, and her stern face softened into smiles.
‘You will come and visit me outside of this circus?’ she asked.
‘Of course.’
‘And bring Elizabeth with you.’
Henry looked confused. ‘Elizab—’
Libby laughed. ‘Are you so used to calling me Libby that you’ve forgotten what my real name is?’
‘Oh yes. I have. Ha ha ha.’
Gram-gram stared at him askance. ‘Whatisthe matter with you, dear? You sound like your cousin, Rupert.’ Her liquid blue eyes bore into Libby’s. ‘You’ll meet my daughter’s family tomorrow, and all the Americans.’ She sniffed. ‘I can’t abide most of them. A bunch of braying half-wits on one side and the nouveau riche on the other flashing their wealth like it’s some sort of competition.’
Libby’s gaze drifted from the tiara on Gram-Gram’s head, down past the necklaces, to the rocks on her fingers.
‘Which of course, they could never hope to win,’ she said, before thinking.
Henry’s grip on her hand tightened.
Gram-Gram’s eyes narrowed, then she barked out a laugh. ‘Yes. Very true. There’s no money like old money.’ She looked past them and frowned. ‘Marie?’
A woman in her forties, dressed in a plain suit, materialised by her side. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘To the table.’
As Marie helped Gram-Gram to her feet, Henry took her other arm.
She brushed him off. ‘I’m not an invalid.’ She eyeballed Libby. ‘Make sure he brings you to the Dower House next week.’
Libby stayed closeto Henry’s side as he introduced her to the rest of his brothers and sisters. He didn’t hold her hand again and she didn’t reach for his. Connor, the son Dervla had when she’d first met the Duke and Duchess, had black hair and piercing green eyes, but his half-siblings from his mother were all fair. Leo was tall and blonde and had brought his best friend, Ella, to the dinner. Willow’s hair was dyed blue, and Summer, the youngest of the family at twenty-one, had perfect blonde curls and the confidence to match her age, social status and beauty. She’d brought a friend with her, Jasmine, who tittered every time Henry said anything.
A loud rapping drew their attention. Gram-Gram was banging her cane on the floor.
‘Come on. I haven’t got all night.’
Henry led Libby to her setting, where the name ‘Elizabeth Bennet’ was beautifully written on a piece of card. She sat between Henry and Connor. Opposite her was an empty space, then Estelle, who was sitting next to a stunning woman. She looked like Jessica Rabbit brought to life, with long deep red hair and a bright red dress. The woman waved to Libby across the ornate candlesticks and flowers that filled the centre of the table.
‘Hi, you must be Libby. I’m Eveline. It’s lovely to meet you.’
‘Hi—’
‘Guess what her job is,’ Estelle interrupted.
Summer opened her mouth to speak, but Estelle turned to her across the empty setting between them.
‘Shuddup, Summer. I hardly ever get a chance to play this game.’
Eveline smiled and shrugged as if reluctantly indulging Estelle.
