Patsy threw up her hands in delight. ‘I don’t hate curtains, it’s just the ones here were hanging in ribbons. If you could do anything about them I would be delighted!’
‘Anything I can do to help,’ said Lizzie.
Patsy beamed with pleasure. ‘Darling! I think you’re going to make an absolutely terrific wife for Hugo. And don’t worry about your parents approving of your marriage. Once they discover he’s the most eligible bachelor in London, they’ll be chuffed to little mint balls.’
‘After breakfast we’ll go and see the house. Would you like that, Georgie?’ said Patsy, eating well-scraped toast that she had blithely burned. ‘I’ll give Di a ring first and suggest she meets us there. She’s the vicar’s wife and if she likes you, I’m sure it will be no problem getting married in the church.’
Patsy fell silent at that point and Lizzie couldn’t decide if she had stopped talking because she was worrying about the meeting. Lizzie certainly was herself.
‘You’re going to be part of the congregation, after all,’ went on Patsy, possibly trying to convince herself.
Earlier, Hugo and Tim had gone to look at the cars that Tim had inherited along with the house. Apparently there was a Bentley that Patsy thought would be really useful for the wedding. Patsy, George and Lizzie were dawdling over breakfast.
‘We will have to get this wedding going,’ said Patsy rubbing her hands excitedly. ‘I do love organising things! It’s because I’m so bossy. But we haven’t got time on our side.’ She paused. ‘Does your mother know where you’re staying?’
‘I wrote to her, giving the address of the cottage, so I expect she thinks I’m there.’
‘With Hugo?’ Patsy laughed. ‘She won’t like that. She’ll be here as soon as she’s worked out how to get here. But don’t worry. I’ll reassure her.’ Patsy sighed. ‘Tim and I had a lovely little holiday in aremote cottage in Scotland before we were married. It was delightful. And while that little house is a perfect love nest, you and Hughie can’t be there together until you’re married. The village wouldn’t be able to cope.’
‘Hugo explained. I knew it would be like that really, but just for a short time I thought how lovely it would be to just live there while we arranged the wedding.’
Patsy laughed. ‘Let’s get you married first. And until then, one of you had better live here and the other in the cottage. And I suggest it’s Hugo there. It was going to be him on his own before – you know …’
‘Before he knew I was pregnant?’
‘It was a bit of a surprise. A lovely one, obviously.’ Patsy sipped her tea, not wanting Lizzie to feel awkward.
‘You have been very kind about it.’
Patsy looked Lizzie firmly in the eye. ‘I’ve known Hugo most of my life and he’s one of the nicest, kindest, most honourable men I know. I’d do anything for him. And actually’ – Patsy seemed pleased – ‘now I’ve met you, I’d do anything for you, too.’
Lizzie looked back at Patsy. This was her opportunity to ask what she had been longing to know: did Hugo love her? He was behaving in a loving way, being so kind, but was that just because hewas honourable and she was pregnant? Was he only marrying her because he saw it as his duty?
But she didn’t. She returned Patsy’s warm smile and said, ‘Thank you!’
Patsy brushed off Lizzie’s gratitude. ‘Nonsense! I think you’re going to be such an asset to our little community. It’s going to be super having you so near and I know you’ll make Hugo very happy.’
‘I’ll certainly try to,’ Lizzie agreed.
Patsy nodded. ‘But there’s no need to give up everything for him. You won’t have time to yourself for years, but it’s good to have something that’s separate from Hugo, an interest that’s all yours.’ She gave a smile that suddenly made her beautiful. ‘Now, I’ll meet you by the front door in twenty minutes?’
Chapter Twenty-seven
Patsy, Lizzie and George had pulled up outside the cottage in Patsy’s old Volvo estate when a car arrived at speed and screeched to a halt behind where they were parked.
‘This is Di Baker, the vicar’s wife,’ said Patsy quickly, winding down her window as they watched a woman get out of the car.
‘Patsy! Hello there!’ The woman nodded at Lizzie. ‘I’m so sorry but I can’t stay,’ she said to Patsy, leaning into the car. ‘There’s been an absolute disaster.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry!’ said Patsy. ‘Anything I can help with?’
Di Baker withdrew from the car window. ‘Sweet of you, but no. Two – two! – of my flower guild have come down with a stomach bug. Really, I should issue instructions that they shouldn’t eat the same food when we’ve got a big event coming up in the church.’
Lizzie couldn’t tell if she was joking, or really meant it.
‘Oh, Di! What event? Don’t say I’ve forgotten something important!’ said Patsy, horrified.
Di shook her head. ‘Don’t worry, Patsy, you haven’t. We’re having a baptism on Sunday and the bishop’s wife is among the guests – the bishop too, for all I know – but it’s vital we have good flowers in the church as she was awfully sniffy about our contribution to the cathedral flower festival.
