‘Well, I’m grateful to you too, either way,’ I say brightly. ‘I promise not to up end your life too much! This is only temporary, just until I get back on my feet.’
‘I am sure that will be soon.’ Auguste says in a tone of voice that I can’t quite decipher. ‘You are very quick-thinking woman to notice Henry choking in the street.’
‘Oh. Oh yes, definitely.’ I nod once. ‘I think very quickly. I saw Henry in distress and just knew I had to help immediately.’
‘I see… Well, I just come here to say hello and say I am looking forward to the training.’
‘I’m training you too?’ I respond, glancing over at Henry.
‘I thought two clients would be better than one?’ Henry says. ‘I will pay double, of course.’
‘Oh you needn’t do that,’ I say. ‘If I train you both at the same time then it won’t cost any more than just for you.’
‘I insist!’ Henry says firmly. My goodness, he must be loaded.
‘Alright then,’ I say because I cannot afford to turn down the extra money.
‘I am going to bed now,’ Auguste says.
‘Oh. Okay. Goodnight then!’
Auguste gives a strange little bow before spinning on his slippered heel and heading back up the stairs.
Henry chuckles lightly. ‘You’ll get used to him. He can come across as a little aloof, but he’s a good enough guy.’
‘Is he mad that I’m here?’ I ask.
‘It’s not his house,’ Henry replies with a grin. ‘But I’m sure he will get used to having someone else here for a little while.’
The pair of us sit back down on the sofa. ‘Have you and Auguste known each other long?’ I ask.
‘For just over a year, actually. I’m a YouTube creator and Auguste is my videographer. I shoot pretty much every day so it made sense for Auguste to live with me. That way he’s available to film every time the muse strikes so to speak.’
‘Wow. A YouTuber!’ I say, as if I haven’t just Googled him. ‘That’s cool.’
Henry beams and I can see how proud he is of what he does. ‘Yeah, I think so. My family don’t like it. They find it a little vulgar. But it’s a wonderful way to get my work out there – I’m a romantic poet, you see – and performing online has been the best thing I could have done for my career. I get booked for so many more appearances now and I’ve had some enquiries from an agent!’
‘Wow. That’s amazing.’ I nod, suitably impressed. What a life to be that handsome, that rich and that talented. Blimey.
Henry shrugs modestly. ‘We’ll see what happens. Gosh, I am talking endlessly at you and I can see you stifling those yawns. May I show you to your room?’
I nod. ‘You may.’
