The Austen Playbook (London Celebrities #4)(77)

Sabrina squeezed her. “How’s it going? Are all signs pointing to a smash hit?”

“There’ve definitely been signs recently,” Freddy said, stepping back. “But who knows where they’re pointing? Are you here to do recce?”

“We always finalise preparations on-site if we’re broadcasting outside the studio.” Sabrina smoothed back a red curl and looked around. “Oh, what a beautiful place.” Hands on her hips, she turned in a circle, taking everything in, then cast Freddy a wicked glance, her vivid green eyes sparkling. “You didn’t forget which character you’re playing and do an Elizabeth Bennet, did you? Do we mark the moment you were prepared to overlook Malfoy’s faults to your first seeing his beautiful grounds here at Highbrook?”

Freddy shot her a look, and her sister grinned. “Have The Davenport Report team been here yet, by the way?”

“Not that I’ve seen.”

“How slapdash and fly-by-night of them.” Sabrina elevated her ski-jump nose. “I’m surprised. Davenport is such a competitive bastard that I thought he’d have been paying nightly visits to secure the best camera angles.”

“Yes, it’s a shame you’re so retiring and bashful yourself. The way you just let him walk all over you is really tragic.”

Sabrina laughed, and Freddy added, with a shade of apprehension, “You guys aren’t going to rumble tomorrow, are you? We’re trying to walk the line between good publicity for the show and not being overshadowed completely when you and Nick come together to film in the same location and the universe implodes.”

“Fear not, little sis. I’m a professional, and he’s too vain to make himself look bad on live TV. We’ll be so polite you won’t know us.”

“In that case, I suspect I won’t.”

“It’s a great location. It’ll make a nice change from the studio or getting blown about on the banks of the river. Dad didn’t kick up too much of a stink about you doing this show against his advice, did he?”

Freddy glanced at her quickly. “Why? You haven’t heard from him, have you?”

“No. But that’s not unusual. He’s not interested in what I’m up to.” Sabrina sounded completely blasé about that, but Freddy often wondered how indifferent she really was.

“I’m sure he’s proud of you.”

Sabrina made a disparaging noise. “Right. That’s why he’s never once watched the show, didn’t call to congratulate me when I was promoted to full-time, and hasn’t even remembered my birthday for the past few years.”

Rupert never remembered Freddy’s birthday these days, either. It was only audition dates he seemed to recall with perfect accuracy.

It hadn’t always been like that. Mostly, she had to admit, but there had been times...moments, memories...

“Remember your twelfth birthday? You were really into baking back then. You said you were going to be a famous patisserie chef when you grew up. And Dad took us to Paris for the day, and managed to get Suzette Morel to invite you into her salon.” It was one of her clearest early memories. “He helped you make a cake.”

Sabrina’s profile was set as she stared at the house, but her lips moved in a tiny tremor before she pressed them together. “No,” she said, eventually, and her tone didn’t invite further reminiscence. “I don’t remember that.”

Freddy looked at her silently, and touched her hand. “I’m proud of you.”

Sabrina turned her head, and her eyes warmed back to their usual green brilliance. “Likewise, Peanut.”

“Sabs.” Freddy hesitated. She felt she owed it to their father to tell him first what she’d discovered about Henrietta, but Sabrina had worked so hard and come so far in her career, and the potential fallout from this could affect her as well. She deserved a heads-up. “About Henrietta and The Velvet Room—”

Sabrina groaned. “Freddy, I read the bloody play, but I don’t really want to have another cosy chat about Grandma. And I have to meet our executive producer over at the house in about—”

“You need to know this.” It was Freddy’s turn to cut her off, and Sabrina went immediately speculative. Out with the snarky sister, in with the journalist.

“Sounds serious.”

“It is. Akiko obviously hasn’t mentioned anything.” She was getting flustered. When Sabs stared like that, it felt like they ought to be sitting under hot lights in a studio, cameras rolling.

“She’s in on the secret, is she?” Sabrina suddenly pressed a fingertip to the spot between Freddy’s brows. “You’ve got a fucking stress twitch. What the hell’s going on?” Before Freddy could answer, she glanced hastily at her watch. “Shit, I am running short on time. Is it urgent, or can we have a proper sit-down in the weekend?”

Freddy couldn’t imagine they would be taking any action until The Austen Playbook was safely wound up. One problem play at a time. “Okay.”

At that moment, there was movement in her peripheral vision as Griff came out of the theatre and headed for the woodland path. He saw them and nodded once at Sabrina before his eyes found Freddy’s and locked there. Even at a distance, the connection kicked her breath into an unsteady rhythm.

Sabrina cleared her throat loudly and Freddy jumped. “Will this mysterious discussion involve my dear Lord Disdain over there, by any chance?”