‘You see!’ Alexandra went on. ‘Weddings aren’t all bad.’
‘You’re sharing with me again,’ said Meg. ‘And I’ve found you a nightie. We’ll have to get you a toothbrush in the morning.’
‘I’ve loved this evening!’ said Lizzie, taking the mug of cocoa Meg handed her. ‘Being back with you all. I’ve felt like a girl again, instead of a soon-to-be married woman. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to that, I definitely am. But if I hadn’t got pregnant I could have carried on being a girl for a bit longer.’
‘You’ve got another day to be girl!’ said Meg.
‘And we’ll do the wedding list together. It’ll be fun,’ said Alexandra.
‘Only if I’ve done everything I can to my dress,’ said Lizzie firmly. But she was smiling. Life seemed manageable again.
Lizzie came downstairs to the basement kitchen in her borrowed nightie and Meg’s dressing gown, which she had taken without asking. It was six in the morning but in spite of her late night she was so keen to get going again she’d been wide awake since half past five. When David came in at seven she was wearing the toile, holding it together at the back with one hand.
‘Oh, I say!’ said David. ‘If that’s what you look like when you’re dressed in old sheets, I can’t wait to see you in oyster satin with a lace bodice.’
‘You like it? You think it will be OK?’
‘More than OK, love. You’ll be the most beautiful bride ever.’ David cleared his throat. ‘Want a bacon butty?’
‘Yes, please,’ said Lizzie. ‘I’m starving!’
Her toile finished and her dress cut out, Lizzie went back to bed until Meg and Alexandra came and told her it was time to get up again.
‘Come on! We’re off to Peter Jones to make that list. David is going to meet us afterwards and take us out to lunch.’ Alexandra looked thoughtful. ‘I’ll lend you something to wear. That skirt and blouse you came in is too square for the Kings Road.’
Lizzie was alone in the house when Hugo came to fetch her that evening. It was six o’clock and Meg and Alexandra both had jobs serving canapés at a cocktail party. David had left for the theatre. Hugo came to the front door, and as she’d been expecting him to come in through the area, she was slightly out of breath when she greeted him.
‘Hello,’ he said, seeming a bit shy for some reason. ‘Are you ready to leave the big city and come back to our little house in the woods?’
‘I am, although I have had a lovely time. Come down to the kitchen. There’s food. We can have a little snack before we set off. Unless we’re in a hurry?’
‘No. Our time is our own.’
She led the way, talking over her shoulder. ‘I’m looking forward to hearing how you got on with your mother.’ She tried to sound casual as if it didn’t matter to her one way or another. She failed. Her anxiety about this was evident in her voice.
‘Convincing her that the wedding is a good thing?’
‘Yes.’ Lizzie opened the door to the kitchen and let Hugo walk in first.
Hugo looked at the plates filled with canapés that were laid out on the table. Some of them were a bit battered at the edges but it was still an impressive spread. ‘My goodness,’ he said. ‘It’s a feast!’
‘It’s Meg. You know she works for a catering company? A box of food fell over in the back of the van. She brought home everything that couldn’t be given to the paying customers. David provided these lovely olives from somewhere in Soho that imports them direct from Greece. And there’s egg mayonnaise. Alexandra is practising mayonnaise. She never got it quite right for Mme Wilson. Meg said it was a life skill and therefore she had to perfect it.’
‘There’s enough—’
‘For an army. I know! I think they’re trying to fatten me up. Sorry. We don’t have to eat it.’
‘No! I’m delighted. I don’t think my mother ever tried to fatten anybody up. Rather the reverse. And she eats very little herself so forgets other people need food.’
‘Well, do sit down. Shall I make some tea to go with it?’
‘Tea and miniature quiches? Sounds perfect.’
‘Sorry. Would you like something else?’ Lizzie felt wrong-footed. ‘I always want tea if I’ve eaten something cheesy. I’m sure there’ll be wine somewhere.’
‘Tea would be fine,’ he said. ‘You’re looking well, Lizzie. Have you had a nice time?’
‘It’s been just fab. I’ve really enjoyed myself.’
