He shook his head. ‘I explained the situation to Harold and he’s given me the day off. I don’t have to be back in the workshop until the day after tomorrow.’
‘Do the girls know I’m coming?’
‘I’m afraid not. I couldn’t get through. But I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll give you my card that has the number of the London house on it. If you don’t want to stay with the girls you can ring me and we’ll make another plan. Or drive home.’
Lizzie began to laugh. ‘This is so unexpected and lovely!’
‘I’m glad you’re pleased. I’m going to stay with my mother who’s in town with Nessa. We have to try and heal this breach.’
‘Do you think you might be able to? I don’t think your parents will ever forgive me for not being Electra.’
‘They will when they get to know you. We must just make it possible for that to happen.’
‘We probably don’t have to see them all that often,’ said Lizzie, to make herself feel better.
Hugo chuckled. ‘Will a day be enough for you in London? To get the fabric for your dress? And do the ghastly wedding list which I should do with you?’
‘Absolutely. And don’t think about doing the wedding list. It’s enough that one of us should suffer! As long as you won’t mind what I put on it.’
‘I couldn’t care less. It’s your wedding-dress material that’s important.
The trunk full of fabric in the boot came into her mind. ‘If there was enough suitable material in what Harold gave me to make a dress, I wouldn’t have to go. Think how wonderful that would be.’
‘Harold would be thrilled, I know that.’
‘In two days I could design my dress and cut it out on the big table in the kitchen at the house. It would be so perfect! And I wouldn’t have to waste my time with the girls going shopping. At least, not so much of it.’
‘Don’t you like shopping?’ He seemed surprised. ‘I thought all women did.’
‘Sometimes, but the thought of looking at wedding-dress material with Mummy or traipsing round Peter Jones picking dinner services and tea sets – ergh! I could probably choose a couple of things but not a whole house’s worth of suitable gifts.’
‘But if you don’t, you risk getting things you don’t like.’
‘I don’t care, do you? I’m sure if people want to give us presents they can think up nice things they want us to have.’
‘Towels and toasters?’
‘I always say you can’t have too many towels and toasters.’
‘I’ve never heard you say that!’
‘I promise to say it at least once a day from now on.’
He laughed and squeezed her knee. It made her very happy.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Lizzie was relieved to find the door to the basement kitchen in Belgravia was unlocked, which meant someone was in and still up. It was nearly ten and very late for an unexpected visit. She gestured to Hugo who was waiting in the car to check all was well. He nodded and drove off. The trunk full of material was on the pavement.
Lizzie opened the door and saw Alexandra explaining something to Meg, who was stirring a pan on the stove and then took a separate spoon and tasted whatever was inside it. Clover was lying in front of the gas fire, snoring, even though it wasn’t lit. A rush of love for her friends and nostalgia for the time she lived there, before her life changed forever, came over her. She felt tears prick her eyelids although really there was nothing that she’d change about her life now – if there hadn’t been a wedding to get through.
Then Alexandra spotted her. ‘Lizzie! What are you doing here?’
Then her joy changed to concern. ‘Everything’s all right, isn’t it?’
‘Oh yes. Hugo brought me, as a surprise. He thought I’d had enough wedding preparation and needed a night off.’
‘How lovely! I told you he loved you. Come in.’
