Page 17 of Love and Loathing

“Will they be at dinner?”

“Not if they can help it. They’ve decided to vacate the place for the duration. They’re staying at Redbridge—Amelia’s house. It’s only a mile or so’s walk away, through the grounds.”

Aubrey just nodded, and Evie let her mind wander to Redbridge for a moment, to the thought of Amy’s company, even Hugo’s. She’d far rather be there than here. But as she’d just told Aubrey, she had a job to do.

Aubrey paused at the top of the stairs, waiting for instructions. The landing ran both left and right, almost as many doors as a hotel, though somewhat further apart.

“That’s my room,” she told him, pointing. “Second door on the right. If you ever need to borrow a cup of sugar.”

She laughed at his dubious expression then led the way left, stopping at the fourth door. “This is you. Prestwick Suite.Domnall and Liv are in the suite next door. It’s three times the size of yours. I hope you’re not jealous.”

Then, realising thatjealouswas probably exactly what Aubrey was when it came to any sort of room his ex might be sharing with another man, Evie grimaced and covered the awkward moment by opening the door and ushering Aubrey inside.

She sat down on the bed with a deliberately annoying bounce. “Awfully uncomfortable, I’m afraid. The bathroom’s through there. There’s a little study-slash-sitting room through that door. Used to be for the valet, I believe. Or the lady’s maid.”

She sprang up again as Aubrey finished poking his head through the indicated doors.

“Let me help you with that,” she said, taking the bag from his shoulder. Ooof. It weighed a ton. But that was promising in the laptop stakes.

“Why are you being so helpful?” he asked suspiciously.

“Oh,” she said lightly, grinning. “You’ll find I’m a truly excellent girlfriend.”

EIGHT

Aubrey dressed slowly, buttoningsubtle cufflinks onto his pale blue shirt, shrugging into his dark navy jacket, but forgoing a tie. Roscoe had briefed him on the usual dress codes in operation at Conyers. Tonight counted as a casual dinner.

He looked out of the window as he tugged his suit sleeves straight. The sky was a dusky, pinkening gold, the grounds washed with long, mellow shadows. His room was three floors up. The jump would definitely kill him, but he imagined himself down there, blood polluting the spotless gravel, and Evie’s face flashed into mind. He’d be embarrassed if she saw him dead. She’d be surprised he’d turned out to be so weak.

He turned from the window. He didn’t mean it anyway, didn’t remotely want to die. But his sense of humour reflected his mood, and his mood was dark.

Dinner with Liv. Watching her across the table, her every move so familiar he would feel he was going mad. He had known her for sixteen years. Loved her helplessly for all of them.

Somehow, despite dawdling, he reached the library first. He stood staring at the empty fireplace, debating whether it would be rude to help himself to the decanted spirits nearby. Then Liv walked into the room.

“Perfect.” She smiled. “I was hoping to catch you alone.”

He watched her walk towards him.

“It’s been an age, hasn’t it?” she asked.

“Two years.”

“Twenty months,” she countered. “Haven’t you been keeping track?”

When he didn’t dignify that with a response, she just smiled again and glided over to the drinks cabinet. She was wearing a deep green hourglass dress that showed off her every curve. He’d always told her he liked her in green.

“Still the bourbon for you?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered reluctantly, feeling stupidly betrayed by his own predictability. He ought to have changed. Chosen some new favourite drink. But Liv had always been able to read him like a book.

She handed him a glass. Held out her own. “Cheers.”

He drank.

“To old times, hm?” she said, forcing the toast on him, and smiling at the irritation in his eyes.

“Old times? Really? Are you sure that’s what you want to dwell on now? Let’s regale Domnall, shall we? Give him all our history. First kiss. First time. The time you agreed to marry me. Or perhaps the time you dumped me from a very great height when you got a job offer abroad. And I had to let you go, because it would have been selfish of me to hold you back from such a brilliant opportunity, only to learn six months later that you were shagging one of the partners all along—”

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