Lizzie was home early having helped Meg with a tea party. Meg was still at the house, washing up, so Lizzie was alone. She let herself into the kitchen via the area steps, longing to get her shoes off. She wasn’t sure if they hurt because her feet were swelling (a symptom of pregnancy, she had discovered) or if her shoes were just too small. She’d bought them in a sale to go with her waitress’s uniform.
There was someone sitting at the table and she jumped in shock. It was Hugo.
He got up when she came in. ‘I’m so sorry to startle you. Alexandra insisted I stayed to wait for you. She and David have gone to the theatre. I suggested coming back tomorrow but she wouldn’t let me.’ He smiled. ‘She’s a very determined woman, isn’t she?’
Lizzie’s mouth went dry. ‘Yes. Yes, she is. Would you like some tea?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘But I’m going to make it. Alexandra showed me where everything is and said you’ve been waitressing with Meg and will want to sit down and take your shoes off.’
Lizzie couldn’t help laughing. ‘She’s not only determined, she’s also very frank.’
‘That’s a good thing. And you’d better take them off immediately.’
Lizzie did as she was told. She felt very torn. She had sworn, and truly believed, she didn’t want to see Hugo, but now he was in front of her, making tea, her heart lifted with joy. Even though she was determined that he wouldn’t learn her secret. Unless he already knew …
‘Here we are: tea.’ He lifted the teapot and poured. ‘Should I have left it to brew a bit longer? Is that too weak for you?’
‘It’s fresh and I haven’t made it or poured it.’ She sipped it. ‘It’s lovely.’
‘I should have brought cake,’ he said. ‘There’s a lovely little cake shop on the corner, near where I work.’
‘I’m full of cake,’ Lizzie admitted, wondering why he was being so nice to her. ‘Meg and I shared a bit of Victoria jam sponge that had got squashed. It was filled with cream. Actually I feel a bit sick.’ The instant she said the word she wondered if this was somehow revealing. She had to stay calm. If he knewshe was pregnant, he would have mentioned it by now. Wouldn’t he?
He pulled out the chair next to hers and, when he was seated, he poured his own tea. ‘I expect you’re wondering why I’m here.’
Lizzie nodded and drank more tea. It was easier than talking.
‘I’ve come to say goodbye.’
Lizzie nearly dropped her cup. ‘Goodbye?’
‘Well, not for ever. But I’m leaving London. I know Nessa told you that Electra and I are no longer engaged.’ He looked at her for confirmation so she nodded. ‘I don’t know if she also told you that I’m giving up the law. I’m going to become an apprentice to a master cabinet maker. I’m going to learn how to make furniture.’
‘Oh,’ said Lizzie after a second or two. ‘That’s why you bought woodworking tools at the market that time.’
He nodded. ‘I’m surprised you remember, but yes.’
‘And why there were tools in the boathouse?’
‘I used to hide up there and make things,’ he said. ‘My parents wouldn’t have tolerated me doing anything like that.’ He laughed ruefully. ‘In fact, they won’t tolerate it now. They’re not speaking to me at the moment. Four generations of judges and I’m not following on. As far as they are concerned, it’s an utter disaster.’
Lizzie had suffered a lot of family disapproval herself recently and knew how horrible it was. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry!’
‘It’s not your fault. First, I disengaged myself from a woman they thought was the perfect wife for me, and then told them I’m going to throw up a very lucrative, respectable profession to whittle sticks. Hardly what they spent all that money on my education for.’
Lizzie couldn’t help laughing. She could just imagine Sir Jasper’s horror at the thought of his son doing anything manual. ‘My parents aren’t speaking to me, either. I’ve done something far worse, and have been far more disappointing—’ She stopped suddenly, aware of what she’d been about to say.
‘What?’ His gaze was very intense. ‘What have you done, Lizzie?’
She closed her eyes to see if that would strengthen her resolution. ‘It’s not—’ She stopped again.
He took hold of her hand. ‘Lizzie?’
‘I’m pregnant,’ she whispered.
His hand gripped hers. ‘Oh my God. That night?’
She nodded. ‘Yes.’
