‘Lizzie, you look lovely! You’re wearing the perfect clothes for a girl about to meet her future in-laws.’
‘Except they’ve met me before and they don’t like me.’
‘It was only my father who took against your short skirt.’
‘Are we going to tell them I’m …’ She paused before saying the word. ‘… pregnant?’
‘We’ll play it by ear. Now, the sooner we go in the sooner we can get away again afterwards.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘They eat at eight. Better not to keep my father from his dinner.’
Hugo let them into the house through the side door which was unlocked and led the way to where his parents were sitting. Sir Jasper got up when they entered the room.
Hugo went in first. He kissed his mother and shook hands with his father. ‘And here’s Lizzie,’ said Hugo. ‘Who you have met but only briefly.’
Lizzie stepped forward to say hello but although she thought she was speaking no sound emerged. Lady Lennox-Stanley gave her the briefest of smiles. ‘Do sit down.’
But Lizzie was too scared to move.
Sir Jasper nodded.
‘I’m surprised you’ve deigned to grace us with your presence,’ said Sir Jasper to Hugo. ‘You’ve turned your back on everything we’ve done for you, after all.’
‘Father, I’m following my own course. I’m very grateful for all the advantages you’ve given me but now I’m using them to do what I’ve always wanted to do.’
‘You seemed perfectly happy with the law until you came across this …’ Sir Jasper paused, possiblywondering how he could describe Lizzie in a way that wouldn’t be rude but would make his opinion of her plain. ‘… young person.’
‘My giving up the law was nothing to do with Lizzie.’
‘Drink?’ said Sir Jasper abruptly.
‘No thank you,’ said Hugo. ‘We’ve come to tell you that we’re getting married.’
Sir Jasper choked on his whisky. ‘Are we to assume that …’
‘Lizzie,’ said Hugo.
‘… is with child?’
Lizzie sat down suddenly on the chair behind her before she could faint.
Sir Jasper turned his attention to her as she perched on the edge of her seat. ‘This is a very unfortunate occurrence. I’m sure there are many other solutions but my son has obviously undertaken to give you his name.’
It took Lizzie a moment or two to grasp that Sir Jasper meant Hugo intended to marry her, which she already knew.
‘I am,’ said Hugo. ‘It is my baby too. Lizzie didn’t get pregnant all on her own!’
Both of his parents looked at him in horror. Lizzie didn’t know if it was because he’d admitted his part in her pregnancy or had used the word ‘pregnant’.
‘Have you considered other options?’ Lady Lennox-Stanley asked. ‘You could release my sonfrom the obligation he obviously feels. We could offer some sort of remuneration for you, if you did this.’
Lizzie longed to say, ‘So you’d pay me to have an abortion?’ but she couldn’t. She couldn’t use the word and she didn’t dare give them the slightest hint that she was open to offers. She wasn’t. ‘Hugo and I feel that getting married is the best option for … our baby.’
Sir Jasper banged his hand hard on the arm of his chair. ‘It isn’t a baby yet! And it certainly isn’t the best option for my son!’
‘I think Hugo can decide what’s best for him. He is an adult.’ She kept her voice low but clear. She didn’t like shouting and didn’t want to add to the noise level.
‘Hm,’ said Sir Jasper. ‘Hugo is indeed over twenty-one but are you? Have your parents consented to this marriage?’
‘Of course they have!’ snapped Lady Lennox-Stanley. ‘They’d pounce on a man like Hugo like a tiger on a tethered goat! He’s a catch they never could have hoped for. Their daughter, marrying into the upper classes? It’ll be their dream come true!’
