Page 105 of Love ad Lib
Ah yes, the costume party. He quickly dressed and shook out the picnic blanket. ‘Are you going to tell me what my options are?’
She turned with a cheeky grin. ‘Not yet, but I adore both of them.’
‘A squirrel,’Henry stated.
Libby giggled. ‘It doesn’t reveal more than five per cent of your body, and your parents definitely wouldn’t approve. Since your dad wants to shoot all the squirrels on the estate, I’ve ticked both boxes with this one.’
He ran his hand over his face to try and hide his smile. ‘Okay, clever-clogs, what’s option number two?’
Her cheeks coloured as she lifted a garment hanger from the wardrobe door. She unzipped it and revealed the outfit with a flourish.
‘Mr Darcy?’
‘Or Bingley, or Knightly, or Wickham,’ she said hurriedly. ‘Or you could just be your great-great-great-grandfather?’
‘Which outfit doyouthink I should wear?’
Libby picked at the Regency suit in her hands. ‘Well, from a purely practical perspective, this one would be preferable.’
Henry crossed his arms, pretending he needed convincing. ‘In what way?’
‘Well, erm, you wouldn’t get so hot in this one, and if you did, you could remove your, er…’ She swallowed. ‘Jacket.’
‘And?’
Her eyes widened. ‘And?’
‘Why else is that outfit more practical?’
Her free hand gestured to the top of the trousers. ‘If you needed to, erm, go to the toilet, this has an easier, ahem, system, for access to your, er…’
‘Okay, I’ve made up my mind.’
‘You have? Which one are you going to wear?’
He smiled. ‘You’ll have to wait and see.’
Libby left shortly afterwardsfor Summer’s room, arranging to meet Henry downstairs after the first gong. His youngest sister had insisted she wanted to do Libby’s hair, and Henry didn’t know whether to be worried or pleased another of his siblings was taking an interest in his fake girlfriend. Libby assured him she would be fine, so he let it go and went to take a shower and get dressed.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Henry decided he liked what he saw. He liked the structured and subtle formality of the clothes, the tightness of the cravat and the way the tailcoat jacket nipped in at the waist. The knee-high boots completed the outfit. Maybe he was more of a vain dandy than he claimed.
He glanced at his watch, impatient to see Libby again. He’d known she was special the first time they’d met, but now he craved her presence. She was sweet, kind, funny, and effortlessly beautiful. He thought of Lucas and his hand instinctively formed into a fist. That prick didn’t deserve her love. And the way he’d kissed her… A slap across the face with a wet fish had more finesse.
But if I ever had the chance to kiss her, it would be with my heart and soul.
The contract lay on top of a chest of drawers, reminding him that his thoughts as well as his deeds should be gentlemanly.
Fuck’s sake.
He hid it out of sight in his bag and went downstairs.
‘Impatient to see your lady love?’Connor asked as Henry’s gaze flicked to the door for the umpteenth time.
The first gong had rung, but Libby was yet to appear.
‘Is it that obvious?’
‘In the words of Mammy, “t’be sure, t’be sure”,’ Connor replied in an Irish accent.
