Eventually Hugo came in, looking stern. ‘I think we should go, Lizzie. Your father is still too angry to listen to what I have to say so we’re not achieving anything. I think we probably need to give your parents time to calm down.’
Her parents were in the hall when they came out of the kitchen. Lizzie went to her mother and hugged her. Habit meant her mother’s arms went round her daughter but it wasn’t a proper hug. Lizzie didn’t look at her father. Hugo took her arm and gently led her out of the house.
They drove until they were out of the town and then Hugo found a layby next to some woodland and pulled in. ‘That could have gone better,’ he said.
Lizzie gave a shuddering sigh. ‘I’m so sorry they were so awful to you. I thought they’d be delighted I was going to get married.’ She turned to him. ‘It was dreadful of my father to accuse you of – those things.’
‘He loves his daughter very much and had a lot of pent-up anger to express,’ Hugo said. He looked at her for a minute. ‘Your hair is beginning to curl.’ He moved the little kiss curls that had formed by her ears. ‘Curly locks, curly locks, wilt though be mine? Thou shalt not do dishes, nor yet feed kine,’ he quotedsoftly. ‘Except that you will have to do dishes – although I promise you’ll be spared the kine.’
She smiled. The shock had faded and she was beginning to feel better about it all. ‘I’m used to doing dishes – currently it’s a big part of my job. And I could probably feed a cow if I had to, but please don’t ask me to milk one.’
Hugo didn’t return her smile. ‘But seriously, I can offer you very little except my name. Financially, I mean. We’re going to be really poor. I have savings and a small income from some money left by an aunt but honestly? I can’t keep you in any sort of comfort.’
‘So shall we camp on the roadside like gypsies?’
He did laugh now. ‘Not quite that bad. I’m going to be renting a little house on the edge of the woods. It belongs to old friends of mine and is quite near the workshop. It’s very handy.’
‘That sounds lovely! Why are you making such a big thing of it? You’re putting a roof over my head.’
‘It’s not a very grand roof.’
‘What? No turrets or castellations? How awful! Tell me what it is like, then.’
‘It used to be lived in by the gamekeeper on a big estate that my friends own. It has two bedrooms, a sitting room and a small kitchen that was added later. Oh, and you’ll love this – a bathroom.’
‘Is it a specially super bathroom?’
‘Not at all, quite the opposite, but it’s in the house. That is very modern, believe me. The outside privyis still there, but you’re not obliged to use it unless you want to.’
‘Oh,’ said Lizzie, as understanding dawned.
‘But I really like it. There’s quite a big garden. No lawn, or anything like that, it’s just for fruit and vegetables.’
‘I’ll have to learn how to garden then,’ said Lizzie brightly.
‘You will. But although we’re in the woods the garden is quite a suntrap in the afternoon. The house isn’t dark.’ He paused. ‘But it is very different from where you’ve been brought up.’
‘Or whereyou’vebeen brought up?’
He laughed. ‘True, but this is what I want to do and I’m happy to make the sacrifice.’ He frowned. ‘Perhaps it’s unfair of me to ask you to live like that, though. Electra certainly couldn’t have. Perhaps I should stay with the law and give up the idea of becoming a cabinet maker.’
Lizzie’s hand shot out to touch his sleeve. ‘No! You must do what you want with your life! You mustn’t give up your dreams for me – I don’t care about money. I can cook; I can make my own clothes and clothes for the baby.’ She bit her lip. ‘Your clothes are probably all such good quality they’ll last for generations.’
‘You’re so right! They will. I have a coat that was my grandfather’s. You do make me laugh, Lizzie.’
‘And that’s a good thing?’
‘It absolutely is.’ He flashed her a grin. ‘Are you up for the second lot of parents?’
‘I suppose so. I’m not expecting them – your father anyway – to have had a change of heart though. He’s still going to disapprove of me horribly.’
‘That’s his choice. Now, we must get a move on. I’ve booked a table at a little restaurant near where my parents live. It’s nothing remotely fancy but it’s cosy and they’re expecting us.’
The restaurant was a café during the day, but in the evening served a few early diners. There was a set menu of soup, lamb chops and home-made lemon sponge with ice cream. They ate quickly until Lizzie grew nervous and had to stop.
‘Never mind,’ Hugo said bracingly on their way back to the car, ‘we know it’s going to be hell. We’ll just tell them we’re getting married and get out of there.’
‘Are you sure I don’t look pregnant?’ she asked him as they sat in the car outside the big house. She’d asked Hugo if they could wait a few moments until she felt ready.
