A Lesser Evil - Lesley Pearse [10]
‘I was only interested; his father was a top surgeon at Guy’s, after all.’
‘Yes, but Gerald felt so intimidated he didn’t want to come here again. I think he thought you’d got our wedding all planned.’
‘I can’t be blamed for hoping my daughter will marry well.’
‘I’d only been out with him a couple of times, Mum,’ Fifi said in exasperation.
‘Well, all that was a long time ago,’ Clara said dismissively. ‘Anyway, this young man is an entirely different can of worms. If he has no family I can’t ask him questions about them, can I?’
‘Why do you have to question him?’ Fifi asked. ‘You don’t question my girlfriends, you just chat. Do that with him!’
‘About what?’
‘Oh, Mum,’ Fifi exclaimed. ‘Anything – television, film stars, favourite foods, a story in the news. He’s really easy to talk to, it won’t be difficult. Just don’t act as if you’re against, or suspicious of him.’
‘You’d better ask him to tea tomorrow then,’ Clara said.
‘Does it have to be that formal?’ Fifi asked hopefully. ‘Can’t I just get him to come and collect me tomorrow evening and have five minutes with you both before we go out?’
‘You invite him round for tea,’ Clara said firmly. ‘If he can’t cope with that, then there’s something wrong with him. Now, for goodness’ sake get that cardigan hung out on the line to dry. I shouldn’t be surprised if it’s shrunk to half the size now, you’ve had it in that water for far too long.’
Fifi had a heavy heart as she hung her washing on the line. Dan would be pleased he’d been invited to tea; to him that would mean her family had accepted he was important to her. But all it really meant was that he would be on parade for her mother, who’d be giving him marks out of ten for table manners, cleanliness, intelligence, and a dozen other items that she’d decide on the day.
It would be a veritable minefield for Dan. He’d only got to stick his knife in the jam pot, pick his bread and butter up with the wrong hand or fail to use his napkin, and no matter how sparkling his conversation was, he would be blackballed.
Dan’s table manners weren’t that good, but he tried; Fifi had noticed him copying her on more than one occasion. She would have to hope he did it tomorrow too, for she certainly couldn’t embarrass him by suggesting she give him a crash course in her mother’s pet hates tonight.
It was a balmy day, and the garden looked lovely with all the blossom and spring flowers. With luck, if it was still nice tomorrow, her parents might suggest having tea out here. That would be far less daunting for Dan. He really appreciated pretty gardens, and he knew a surprising amount about plants as he used to help in the garden at the children’s home. That might stop her parents from assuming he was some kind of villain.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behaviour,’ Dan said later that afternoon as they sat up on the Downs above the Suspension Bridge, looking at the view of the Avon Gorge. ‘I’ll wash behind my ears, put on my best dazzling white shirt and polish my shoes.’
‘Just don’t let Mum keep asking you questions,’ Fifi warned him. ‘Ask her about plants, praise her cakes, and stuff like that. Patty will be lovely, she always is. Robin is mad about rugby and cricket and that’s all he wants to talk about. Peter’s not much of a talker, but he’s interested in photography.’
‘Of which I know nothing,’ Dan smirked.
‘You don’t have to, just ask to see some of his work, you’ll be his best mate then.’
‘Are they both at college?’
‘Yes, Robin’s doing accountancy and Peter wants to be an architect. But don’t worry about that, they aren’t geniuses or anything.’
‘Will your dad ask me if my intentions towards you are honourable?’
Fifi giggled. ‘Of course he won’t, he’s not a heavy Victorian father. He’s rather sweet, much gentler than Mum. Are your intentions honourable?’
‘I’d give anything to go to bed with you,’ Dan said, putting his arms round her and bending her backwards over