Page 65 of Love ad Lib
His best friend laughed. ‘As long as Estelle doesn’t fart in the wardrobe again.’
‘That was Dad’s fault,’ Estelle replied. ‘His onion bhajis are the best.’ She pointed her finger at Ella. ‘Go on, pull it.’
Ella shook her head. ‘No way.’
‘God, Estelle, you are so gross!’ shrieked Summer. ‘Finn, are you playing?’
He shook his head.
‘Oh, come on. Please?’
‘Only if Estelle promises to let rip without warning.’
Estelle high-fived him. ‘You’re on.’
As people got up from the table, Henry turned to Libby.
‘You don’t have to play if you don’t want to,’ he murmured.
‘I don’t know my way around the house at all,’ she whispered back.
‘Elizabeth,’ said Gram-Gram, ‘if you do not wish to partake, then you may keep me company. I have questions for you.’
Libby swallowed. ‘Thank you, but I feel the game may give me a chance to get to know the Manor better.’
‘Humph. Very well. I shall speak with Eveline instead.’
Henry glanced at the vicar. She’d only been in Foxbrooke a couple of years and he hardly knew her. She didn’t look excited about the prospect of being button-holed by Gram-Gram.
‘Okay! Listen up,’ said Summer. ‘You can only hide in the main house—not the attics or cellars, and you have to choose a place that can hold at least eight people comfortably. Finn, you go first. We’ll give you three minutes.’
‘Are there any places that are off limits?’ Libby asked as Finn left the room.
‘Nothing’s off limits at Foxbrooke,’ laughed Vivienne.
‘Except the chimney in the kitchen,’ replied Estelle. ‘Connor and Henry got stuck up there once.’
‘We were eight!’ they chorused in unison.
‘Can I play the first round with you?’ Libby whispered in Henry’s ear.
He nodded, his heart rate rising. The warmth of her breath felt like a caress.
‘Right, let’s go!’ Summer dashed out of the room.
Henry got to his feet, held out his hand for Libby without thinking, then dropped it again. She blushed. A loud throat-clearing snapped his focus from her pink cheeks. Gram-Gram was staring at them.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go find Finn.’
‘There are traditional spots for sardines,’Henry told Libby as they started their search. ‘Under my parent’s bed because it’s so big, in some of the wardrobes, behind the curtains in the middle corridor and inside the jam cupboard. There are also lots of small storage rooms that are perfect. The game can take hours if you don’t know where to look.’
‘So where are we going first?’
‘The broom cupboard underneath the servant’s stairs. Finn always chooses it.’
Sure enough, Finn was right at the back, looking as if he were trying to merge with the stone wall to get away from Summer, who was pressed against him.
‘How come you were so quick?’ she grumbled as they moved into the space and shut the door.
