‘There’s been a change of plan,’ he said. ‘I’m Simon, by the way.’
‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ said Lizzie. She got out of the car and ran behind a hedge. She retched but didn’t actually vomit and felt better afterwards. She got back into the car. ‘Tell me the worst.’
‘There is no worst. I’ve got a letter from Hugo. I suggest you read it. Then I’m driving you back to Patsy’s as I know the way well and will be quicker. We’ll go in my car. But read the letter first.’
Lizzie opened it with trembling fingers.
My darling Lizzie,
I’ve been rehearsing these lines in my head for so long now, never quite daring to say them to you in case you look at me, frightened, embarrassed and generally put off the whole idea of marrying me.
I fell in love with you when we met looking at that horrible flat in Tufnell Park. I wasn’t a free man and when I met you again, at Nessa’s dinner party, I knew that I should have stayed away for ever. That was why you terrified me. I knew my destiny had changed the moment I met you.
As you know by now, my family are very stuffy and buttoned-up, no one ever talks about feelings, but in spite of that, wedofeel things. Meeting you jolted me out of the path other people had chosen for me. I decided to give up the law and, fortunately, this was enough to make Electra realise I was not the dream husband she had thought I was.
When you became pregnant and I found out about it I knew I had to marry you, for your sake as much as mine, but I was worried that I’d somehow trapped you into settling down far too young.
I know I should have told you how much I loved you long before this but I found the words so difficult. I tried to show you I loved you, though, and deeds are supposed to be more meaningful than words.
But now I know that you’re worried my father may have tried to talk me out of our marriage. He didn’t; he wanted to arrange an income for me so we’re not quite so poverty-stricken while I do my apprenticeship. But if he had – and he might well have done, he does like his own way – he would never have succeeded. I love you so much, more than I can ever express, and will never stop trying to show you how much that is.
Your ever-(and ever!) loving husband-to-be,
Hugo
Lizzie was sniffing and wiping her nose before she was halfway through it and was crying by the end.
‘OK?’ said Simon. ‘Now we’re going to get going because you’re the bride and you can’t be late. Hugo will go with the girls in the other car. As bridesmaids, they’re not so important.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Eleven fifteen. We’re cutting it fine. Hold on to your hat!’
Neither of them spoke for a while. Lizzie needed time to pull herself together. Simon was concentrating on the road.
Eventually Lizzie felt enough in control to take the opportunity to inspect her driver. He was good-looking, tall, with very blue eyes and dark curly hair. She could see what Vanessa saw in him. He seemed nice, too. Kind, certainly. She really hoped he would take a fancy to Vanessa – provided of course that she still fancied him.
‘I’m sorry about this,’ she said eventually. ‘I think all the wedding preparations must have made me a little crazy. Of course I know Hugo wouldn’t leave me at the altar.’
‘To be fair, I don’t blame you for thinking that Hugo’s father might have tried to talk him out of it. But even if he had tried, he’d have realised that he’d met his match. Hugo loves you to distraction. He’d never give you up.’ Simon drove on for a while. ‘Can I tell you what I was worrying about?’
‘Of course.’
‘I was worried that you might not love him half as much. It worried him, too. He thought you’d been bounced into this wedding and that you might not be happy about it.’
Lizzie sniffed, hoping she wasn’t going to cry again; her mother would tell her off if she appeared with red eyes. ‘I could have done without the wedding but I do really love Hugo. He said in hisletter – he may have told you – that he loved me the first time we met. Well, it was the same for me. I was worried about him being trapped into marrying me, too. Alexandra – you met her briefly – she knew how I felt about him, and she told me I should have told Hugo. But girls don’t do that, really. Not unless the other person has said it first. So I didn’t.’ She sighed. ‘I probably should have.’
‘It is hard to tell someone your feelings. You two haven’t known each other very long, after all.’
‘I wish we could have just got married, the two of us, with no fuss.’
‘But you couldn’t?’
‘No. My wedding day has obsessed my mother since I was a little girl. I couldn’t deprive her of it.’
‘That’s kind.’
‘I don’t know about that.’ Eager to change the subject, she said, ‘Do you remember Vanessa, Hugo’s sister?’
‘Nessa?’ He spoke enthusiastically, which was a very good sign. ‘Of course! I’m looking forward to catching up with her. She’s turned out quite lovely, hasn’t she?’
‘I didn’t know her when she was – however old she was when you last saw her.’ In fact, Lizzie remembered perfectly well. Vanessa had been thirteen. ‘But she’s turned out to be a real friend.’
