‘I hadn’t heard that,’ said Lizzie. ‘But it sounds like an excellent idea.’ She hesitated. ‘Have we got time for a walk first? I’m just feeling a bit – you know …’ She couldn’t explain herself because she didn’t understand her feelings. She should be so happy. She was marrying the man of her dreams, whom she loved so much, and yet instead of feeling ecstatic, she felt a little lost.
‘A short one,’ said Hugo. ‘I don’t want to risk the wrath of Patsy.’
‘I just want to get my bearings. See what surrounds my future home. I am so looking forward to living here.’
‘I’m glad.’ He paused, as if he was going to say something else but then didn’t.
‘Come on!’ said Lizzie, partly to cover the awkward silence. ‘Let’s see if we can find a tree we can climb! I’ve always loved climbing trees. Strangely, my mother never encouraged it.’
Chapter Twenty-eight
Quite soon, however, the lists began to take over Lizzie’s life. Her mother, who was still staying, was insistent on them, and Patsy – as they discussed it over the last of the toast and marmalade one breakfast time – agreed that they were important. She and Angela made an unexpectedly good team, which was a relief. No mention was made of Lizzie’s father, although Lizzie assumed her mother telephoned him from time to time. Hugo had moved into the cottage so he could leave early without disturbing Patsy and Tim’s dogs, and Lizzie felt she hardly ever saw him. Now, Tim was reading the paper, ignoring the women who surrounded him.
‘If you don’t have a wedding list,’ said Patsy, ‘your mother is going to be inundated with telephone calls asking what you want as a wedding present. She’ll be inundated anyway, but at least she can just tell them to get the list from Peter Jones.’
‘And of course,’ said her mother, as she seemed to with every second breath, ‘time is not on our side. We’ve only got a month.’
‘I know, Mummy,’ said Lizzie meekly.
Her mother went on. ‘I can help you make the list, darling. You want a nice dinner service – I’ll help you find a suitable pattern – and people can just buy parts of it.’
‘You’ll probably find that someone – possibly related to Hugo – will buy the whole thing,’ said Patsy.
‘How generous that would be! You’ll also need some good glasses – Waterford for preference …’
Lizzie pictured her future kitchen with its stone sink and poor light and thought that possibly something more solid and less precious would be better. Perhaps something bought with Green Shield Stamps. But she knew better than to say this.
‘Knives and forks – silver plate will do …’
‘And don’t forget to choose some really good kitchen knives and saucepans,’ Patsy broke in. ‘I forgot to put them on my list so I’m using the ones that were left in the house. Nightmare! And I’m afraid all the nice glasses we were given got broken in the first year.’
‘Oh. Well, I’ve always brought up Elizabeth to be very careful,’ said Lizzie’s mother, looking concerned. She was probably picturing Lizzie’s kitchen too.
‘People can always give me towels if they’re stuck,’ said Lizzie.
‘Very true. We’ve got towels that Tim had at school,’ said Patsy. ‘With his Cash’s name tape on them.’
‘And bedlinen,’ Lizzie’s mother finished, determined to list everything she had on her mind.
‘OK, Mummy, I’ll do that,’ said Lizzie, wondering if in fact she had to.
‘The guest list is my responsibility,’ her mother went on. ‘But somehow, we must get a list from Hugo’s parents.’ She paused. ‘It’s such a shame they’re not keen on this marriage.’
‘They haven’t had a chance to get to know Lizzie – Elizabeth,’ said Patsy. ‘When they do, they’ll love her! How could they not?’
‘You’re very kind,’ said Lizzie.
‘I’ll have a word with Hugo’s mother,’ Patsy said. ‘After all, she may already have made a list for when he was—’ She stopped, horrified as she realised what she had been going to say.
Lizzie found herself laughing. ‘You mean, when they were planning a wedding between him and Electra?’
‘I am such an idiot!’ said Patsy. ‘Why do I never think before I speak?’
‘Because you’re an idiot,’ said her husband fondly, getting up from the table. ‘Now I have work to do. And George? If you’re quick, I’ll come up with you and help you brush your teeth.’
When both Tim and George had left the room, Lizzie’s mother said, ‘It’s wonderful how modern men are so helpful with the children these days. I don’t suppose Elizabeth’s father ever had anything to do with your teeth, did he, darling?’
‘No,’ said Lizzie.
