Lizzie cleared her throat and got to her feet. ‘Actually, my parents aren’t at all happy about the situation. I do hope they will realise that our marriage is the best thing for everyone – as I hopeyou will also. However, as you and they seem to be in perfect agreement on the subject, there is no point in staying here a moment longer!’ Her anger was seeping past her desire to be completely calm and dignified.
‘You sit back down!’ roared Sir Jasper.
Hugo was on his feet now. ‘Father, I realise that you’re unhappy about our marriage – it’s not what you expected and it’s come as a shock to you. But you must never, ever, speak to Lizzie like that again, or I will genuinely never darken your doors again. Is that what you really want?’
Sir Jasper deflated a little. ‘Hugo, you are my son and as such you have duties and responsibilities. I don’t want you – either of you – to be trapped in a marriage that is doomed to failure.’
Hugo nodded. ‘In which case we’ll leave now. Come along, Lizzie.’
He took her arm and swept her out of the drawing room, along the passage to the side door and out of the house.
They walked arm in arm towards the car. Although it had been awful, it wasn’t an unexpected reaction. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘I suppose that could have gone worse but I’m not sure how.’
‘No,’ Hugo agreed. ‘I should have made the old devil apologise to you.’
‘No point, it wouldn’t have changed anything, even if you had managed to make him do it.’
‘You were so impressive, though. I felt so proud of you. Maybe you should take up the law in my place.’
Lizzie giggled. ‘No thank you, not if it means I’d have to go through scenes like that every day. I’d rather feed kine, or whatever it was you had in mind for me.’
Hugo stopped. ‘My parents really are unspeakable.’
‘Don’t feel guilty, it’s not your fault they’re like that. And you can’t blame them really. They’re bound to connect this decision with you leaving the law and breaking up with Electra, even though I had nothing to do with it.’
‘That’s not entirely true.’
‘What?’
Hugo sighed. ‘I suppose we’d better set off for London. I’ve got an early start in the morning. There are lots of loose ends to clear up.’ But he didn’t immediately start the car. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind living in a hovel, Lizzie? That’s how Electra would describe it.’
‘I think I’m going to love it. It sounds so romantic. I can’t wait to see it.’
He looked at her quickly. ‘Are you very tired?’
‘I will be but at the moment I’m fine.’ She was full of nervous energy, fired up by her recent encounter with Sir Jasper. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Shall we drive to the cottage? So you can see where we’ll live when we’re married?’
‘I thought you said you had an early start.’
‘Yes, but that’s tomorrow. If you’re game, let’s go!’
‘I’d absolutely love that,’ said Lizzie.
He switched on the engine of the car. ‘Try and doze. It’s about an hour away.’
Sleep felt very far away, but perfect happiness felt a lot nearer.
Chapter Twenty-five
Lizzie had been feeling extra tired since she’d been pregnant and did actually doze off a bit until Hugo woke her. Being summer, it was still light but there was something magical about being in the countryside as the darkness began to creep in.
‘We’re nearly there. We’re just about to pass where Patsy and Tim live. I was at school with Tim although he was a few years above me and Patsy’s parents were friends of my parents so I’ve known her even longer.’ He gestured to a drive which led to a house of a size and type seen for sale in the pages ofCountry Life. It definitely qualified as a stately home.
Lizzie shrank in her seat a little. Were Patsy and Tim (who were probably titled) going to hate her in the same way that Hugo’s parents did?
Hugo was unaware of her misgivings as he carried on with his commentary. ‘We go through the village, which is very pretty. There’s the church, a proper green where they play cricket. I’ve actually playedthere myself when Tim needed a batsman.’ He slowed down a little as they passed an expanse of grass surrounded by trees boasting a proper pond with ducks.
