Page 60 of It Takes Three To Tango

Florencio’s eyes widen and he clasps a hand to his chest. “Nooo. Nooo. You can’t do that.”

“I can do whatever I want,” Estrella retorts. “And I choose to give it to you.”

Florencio looks like he’s about to pass out, so I go over to him. As I pass Estrella, I hear her whisper to Constantin. “I think I’ll leave telling him about the art until another time.”

I put my arms round him, and he hugs me like a lifeline.

“Congratulations,” I murmur to him, and he pulls me tighter. He eventually relaxes his hold, and I release him. He turns to his aunt.

“Thank you. But what am I supposed to do with it?”

“Donate it, sell it, keep it, wear it. I don’t care,” Estrella replies.

“I’m not really into drag,” Florencio bites back, which for a guy adorned in a feather boa, a fur coat he’s slung over his shoulders, and a large-brimmed hat, seems a funny thing to say and I let out a giggle.

Florencio looks down at himself and starts giggling too.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I think this would look excellent on you.” I brandish the dusky pink dress I’d found first, holding it up against him.

He draws his head back slightly and says with a hint of disgust, “Cariño, that is absolutely not my colour.”

He divests himself of the coat and hat and goes to kneel before his aunt.

“I can’t accept this, Auntie. It’s too much.”

“It’s my choice to make,” she says.

“But I’ve done nothing to deserve it.”

She places a frail hand against his cheek.

“You’ve brought me more entertainment and joy in the last few weeks than I’ve had in years.”

He covers her hand in his. “Thank you.”

“I’ve arranged for the items in the bank to be transferred into storage in your name. You will need to provide identification and sign some paperwork. Señor Bernat will be back in a few days with the documents.”

Florencio lets out a deep sigh and sits down, leaning his back against a stack of slim boxes. One of them dislodges and falls on him, the contents spilling out.

“Ow!” It’s more of a surprised exclamation than actual hurt. He looks down at a lap full of silk. He delicately holds up a camisole in pink silk.

“Um, Auntie?” he enquires.

“I said I had admirers.” She shrugs. “Many of them would send me lingerie.”

“Did you ever wear any of it?” His nose wrinkles slightly at the thought and he looks like he’s about to throw it away from him.

“Not that I would keep in here,” she cackles. “But it would be churlish to send it back, and it was too nice to throw away.”

She bids us goodnight and leaves us alone.

Florencio visibly relaxes slightly and starts taking down the boxes, opening them and looking inside.

“What are you going to do with all this?” I ask Florencio,sitting next to him and having a peek inside some of the boxes too.

“I have no idea. What am I supposed to do with it? Give it to a museum?”

“You could sell some of it,” Constantin says, and Florencio’s head snaps up.

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