Page 207 of The Upper Crush

‘Why not?’

‘She’s at the end of her tether. As long as we can handle it, she doesn’t need to know.’

‘Okay.’ Henry paused, his expression searching. ‘What’s going on between you and my sister?’

James’s stomach lurched. ‘Nothing.’ He failed to keep the bitterness from his voice.

Henry opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a knocking at the door.

‘My liege!’ a female voice called out as the door opened. ‘Are you—oh!’

Both James and Henry stood as Libby entered the room.

‘Sorry!’ she continued. ‘Should I come back later?’

‘No,’ James said. ‘I was just heading out.’ He drained his coffee and held Henry’s gaze. ‘Thank you.’

Henry nodded. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

James crossed the room to Libby. ‘I want to apologise to you for the way I behaved at the workshop you ran at Conqueror last year. I was in a very bad place and felt too exposed by what you were asking us to do.’

Libby beamed at him as if he’d just figured out how to turn piss into champagne. ‘That’s alright. I know people think improv is just a bit of fun, but it’s powerful stuff.’

James thought he’d feel worse after saying sorry to Henry and Libby, as if it would mean he’d lose part of himself. But he felt bigger, lighter, stronger. Apologising hadn’t taken anything away from him. It had only given him more.

‘Thank you.’ He nodded at Libby and Henry, then left, quietly closing the door behind him.

The fog filling his mind was beginning to lift. Now he was starting to see clearly, he could make a plan and try and find a way to persuade Estelle to give him a second chance.

34

Static burst from Estelle’s radio, then a voice.

‘Calling Estelle or James. It’s Gate One. We’ve got an issue and need either or both of you here immediately. Over.’

Estelle took a deep breath and raised the radio to her mouth.

‘Roger that,’ James’s deep voice crackled through the speaker. ‘On my way. Over.’

Estelle depressed the call button. ‘You don’t need to. I’ll do it. Over.’

No-one replied.

She set off across the parkland towards the manor. It would take at least ten minutes to get from the far end of the temporary car park to the main entrance. Day one had only officially started a few hours ago and already there was a problem so big it required either her or James to sort it out.

Pulling her Day-Glo vest away from her body, Estelle flapped it in an attempt to cool down. The weather gods had shone on the event and removed every trace of a cloud from the sky. However, it was blisteringly hot and there was no breeze. Ideal weather for a day by the river, but a perfect storm for dehydration, sunburn and heatstroke.

Passing through into the spectators’ field behind the manor, she immediately saw sunstroke waiting to happen. Five young lads had positioned themselves on a small incline facing the main stage and were settling in for the day. Each one was sitting in a garden chair they’d brought and had a twelve pack of beer by their feet. They may have had something to drink and somewhere to sit, but they’d forgotten half their clothes. They were shirtless, their lily-white chests shining so brightly that Estelle had to squint when she looked at them, and their only sun protection appeared to be shades.

Making a mental note to speak to the nearest Saint John’s Ambulance crew about them as soon as she’d sorted the issue at the main gate, Estelle continued on, registering all the free water stations they’d installed to cut down on single use plastic bottles and help people stay hydrated.

‘Darling!’

The booming voice stopped Estelle in her tracks. She turned, blinking rapidly as her father strode towards her, one arm outstretched.

What the—

She pushed her sunglasses into her hair, as if that would change the sight in front of her.

---