Page 91 of Love ad Lib
‘And do your bloody dressing gown up properly!’ Henry yelled.
His father waved and shut the door behind him.
However, now the door was damaged, it drifted back open, revealing Arthur holding both sides of his dressing gown apart, the Foxbrooke jewels on full display.
‘I was doing it up!’ he cried.
Henry dashed to the door and slammed it shut in his father’s face.
It fell open again.
‘Well, that won’t work,’ Arthur said, mildly. ‘The frame’s gone. I’d call Finn if I were you.’ He looked around Henry’s shoulder and gave Libby a wave. ‘Church in forty minutes, picnic in a couple of hours. Toodle pip!’
He turned on his heel and walked away, whistling, the slap-slap of his ancient carpet slippers echoing down the corridor.
Henry pushed a chair against the door, then glanced at her. He seemed one straw away from breaking.
Libby burst out laughing and raised her hands in resignation.
His shoulders sagged and he came and sat on the edge of the bed.
‘Church?’ she managed, before giggling again.
The corners of his mouth lifted. ‘Yes. All three of my parents are regulars at Saint Saviour’s even though Mom was raised a Baptist and Mammy a Catholic. They say God is everywhere and loves everyone. Plus, Dad and Dervla are in the church choir.’
‘Seriously? Do they wear clothes?’
‘Yes and yes. They’re quite well-behaved in church, and choir members have robes anyway.’
‘What do the locals think? Eveline?’
‘Pissing off the locals is one of Dad’s favourite hobbies, but most of them have accepted he’s here to stay. And of course, no-one wants to get on the wrong side of Gram-Gram. The previous vicar hated my dad. He was really High Church, all smells and bells, fire and brimstone, which Mammy loved. Eveline’s far more laid-back and progressive.’
Libby remembered the first night’s meal and the tension between Eveline and Gram-Gram.
‘And what does Gram-Gram think of her?’
Henry raised his eyebrows. ‘I’m sure she thinks women shouldn’t be allowed to be priests in the first place. Estelle says Eveline is trying to bring Saint Saviour’s into the twenty-first century, and Gram-Gram’s trying to boot it back to the dark ages.’
Libby took a sip of tea. ‘I could get used to this.’
‘Tea in bed?’
‘Yes, just without the near-naked room service.’
‘And complete lack of boundaries?’
‘Well, his heart seems to be in the right place...’
Henry rolled his eyes. ‘His one saving grace.’
‘And his bollocks definitely are.’
He dropped his head with a sigh and she snorted with laughter.
‘So then Henry, what are we doing today? The costume party is tonight?’
Looking up, he nodded. ‘When are you going to show me what my dress options are?’
