Page 50 of Strictly Business

‘She’s hanging around Liam like you wouldn’t believe. And she’s volunteered to drive him so often we’re thinking of buying her a chauffeur’s cap.’

Alice wished she hadn’t asked.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

For the dinner with Alice’s parents, Liam organised an impressive meal served in a private dining room at The Stapleton, the city’s most prestigious hotel. He was a charming, attentive and entertaining host and Zara and Harold Madigan fell under his spell within the first few minutes. They enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

They asked for endless details about the drama of the plane landing and they looked as if they couldn’t quite believe their luck that this wealthy, handsome and oh, so heroic young man had taken an interest in their cast-aside daughter.

Just the same, Alice was nervous. She had great difficulty eating and when Liam reached for her hand as her parents were finishing their desserts, she almost jumped.

‘Alice and I have something important to tell you,’ he said.

Her mother’s face flushed with sudden excitement, and he added quickly, ‘But I’m afraid I have to warn you to be prepared for a bit of a shock.’

At that Alice’s heart began to beat so wildly she could hardly hear Liam above the thrumming in her ears. She stared at her dessert plate, unable to bear the sudden tension in her parents’ eyes.

‘Alice and I are expecting a baby,’ he said.

Of course a small commotion broke out, but Alice couldn’t help admiring the delicate but firm way Liam went on to explain their dilemma. In the end her parents digested the news that their infertile daughter had rather inconveniently produced proof of fertility with surprising composure.

And when Liam went on to explain that it would be too much to expect Alice to commit to another long term relationship so soon after her divorce, they appeared to accept that news with good grace, too.

When they hugged and kissed Alice, their happiness seemed genuine.

But she should have known that even Liam couldn’t ensure that her mother wouldn’t try to intervene.

Before coffee was served, Zara dragged her daughter off to the ladies’ room.

‘So,’ she said, smiling smugly at her reflection as she applied deep coral lipstick. ‘Have you set a date?’

Alice groaned. ‘Mum, weren’t you listening? I thought you understood. Liam and I are not getting married.’

‘Don’t be silly, dear. That darling man’s besotted with you.’

‘That’s not the point, Mum. You’ll just have to accept that it’s not happening.’

‘Why ever not?’

‘For the reason Liam gave you. It’s too rushed. I’m not ready. It’s not a public disgrace these days, you know. Everyone accepts that babies arrive out of wedlock.’

‘Not in our family.’ Zara’s freshly painted mouth pursed into a tight uncompromising circle as she wound her lipstick down. ‘Liam’s asked you to marry him, hasn’t he?’

Alice groaned. ‘I can’t marry him. I don’t know him well enough.’

Her mother blinked at her. ‘Excuse me, Alice, but I hope you’ll come up with a better excuse.’ Zara was an exschoolteacher, an infamously strict schoolteacher, and right now, her voice was at its frostiest. ‘How can I possibly be expected to tell the rest of the family that you don’t know Liam Conway well enough to marry him? You are, after all, carrying his child.’

With her arms folded across her chest, Alice leaned a hip against the marble bench top and released a desperate little sigh. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve put you in an embarrassing position, but I’m sure you’ll find a delicate way to explain my latest bombshell to the aunts.’

‘But you can’t be enjoying your situation.’

‘I don’t think a rushed wedding will make me feel any better. Let’s be honest, Mum, you pushed me into marriage with Todd because you were afraid I’d end up single and pregnant.’

Zara gasped.

And Alice, who had never been game to raise that subject before, chewed her lip. But then her mother was honest enough to look guilty, which of course, in turn made Alice feel guilty. No doubt she was a very trying daughter. She leant over and dropped a quick kiss on Zara’s cheek. ‘Maybe it’s some kind of cosmic joke that I’m pregnant and out of wedlock now.’

There was no visible response to this.

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