"Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love" – John le Carre

February 1938

"Never!" shouted Charles Wheeler. "No Cockney will ever enter my house!"

"But Father, you never even met Peter. He is really nice," said Samuel.

"Nice? You call a Cockney 'nice'? What are you thinking? They only want to steal from us!" raged the older man.

"How can you say something like that? Peter is a very gentle man, who only wants the best for Lilian"

Even though Samuel tried his best to stay calm, he couldn't help but raise his voice.

"If he really wanted the best for her, he would leave her alone. He has not enough money to support her, not like Michael"

Charles Wheeler sat down beside his wife and poured himself a glass of Bourbon.

"So this is the reason why you don't want Lilian to see Peter? Because of Michael?" asked Samuel in disbelief. "How can you be so egoistic? Michael hurt Lilian when he had cheated on her with his assistant, and you still want him to be your future son in law? What kind of father are you?" yelled Samuel.

He couldn't hide his anger any longer.

Mr Wheeler stood up again and walked over to his son, until he was only a few inches in front of him.

"I'm a father of principles and the head of an outstanding household. What will my friends think of me when they hear that I invited a Cockney to my house, or even worse, when they see that a Cockney is the boyfriend of my daughter? I can't risk our reputation just because Lilian has to go round the bend"

"You are unbelievable, that's what you are," called Samuel out.

He made his way over to his mother and said, "Why don't you say something, Mother. Lilian is your daughter, too"

Edith Wheeler looked up from her magazine she had read while her husband and her son had argued.

"I still think Michael would be the better choice for her"

Samuel threw his head in his head and was just about to rant again, when his mother continued. "He is wealthy, comes from a virtuous family, and he works for your father. He would make a great son-in-law"

She paused. "But maybe we really should invite them over for dinner"

"What?!" yelled Charles. "Am I the only one who is not crazy in this family?"

Edith ignored her angry husband and said, "Samuel, tell Lilian we invite the two of them for dinner, tomorrow at 8 o'clock"

"Great, Mother. I knew I could count on you"

Samuel smiled, gave his mother a kiss on the cheek and exited his childhood home to announce the news to her.

In the living room, a still outraged Charles Wheeler poured himself another drink. "What were you thinking? I thought we both wanted Lilian to marry Michael?"

"You need to know your enemy," smiled Edith mischievously. "Before you can defeat him"

The next day…

Peter and Lilian were walking through the quiet streets of Kensington, holding hands.

"Is everythin' alright, luv?" asked Peter. "You 'aven't said one single word since we made our way from yer flat"

She looked up from the ground. "I'm alright…I guess"

"Are ya worried about me meetin' yer parents?"

Lilian stopped walking. "I still can't think of a single reason why they agreed to meet you. They were furious the last I had talked about you. And now they are fine with it? I don't trust them"

"People often change their mind…"

"But not my parents," she interrupted. "Especially if it's about the family. I think they are up to something"

Lilian looked up to meet Peter's eyes.

"You have to promise me something. No matter what happens tonight, we will stick together, alright?"

"Lil…"

"No, Peter, I'm serious. I know that my parents will do anything to break us apart. And I have a feeling that tonight, something bad will happen"

He wrapped his arms around her small body.

"Nothin' will tear us apart, I promise"

"Good evening, Ms Wheeler," said Mr Adams as he opened the door.

"Hello, Mr Adams," greeted Lilian.

"And this is Peter," she said while pointing at her boyfriend.

" 'ello…I mean Good Evening"

Peter was really nervous. He wanted to make a good impression and tried his best to hide the fact that he comes from the East End.

"Please, follow me," Mr Adams said.

While he led the young couple to the dining room, he heard Lilian whisper to the young man.

"You don't have to hide your accent. It's who you are"

Peter didn't react at first because he was astonished by the interior of Lilian's family home. He felt like being at Buckingham Palace, and like he was about to meet the King.

"Peter?"

"Oh, yeah, if ya say so. I just want to impress them"

They entered the dining room and Mr Adams said, "Mr Wheeler, the young Ms Wheeler is here, with company"

He left the room while Mr Wheeler rose from his seat and made his way to his daughter.

"Darling, it is so good to see you again," he said and hugged Lilian. "And I can presume this is Mr Newkirk?"

Lilian was startled. She had not expected her father to greet her and Peter so warmly.

Peter reached out his hand. "That's right, Sir. But ya can call me Peter"

Charles Wheeler tried hard to hide his disgust about the other man's accent.

"Let's move to the table, shall we?"

They settled down, Peter and Lilian on the one side and Mr Wheeler on the other.

"Where is Mother?"

"Upstairs, freshen up herself. You know how your mother is"

Edith Wheeler entered the dining room at that moment. "I'm sorry for my lateness"

She spotted Peter and said, "Welcome to our modest home. I hope you are feeling fine. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm alright, Mrs Wheeler," he answered.

"Now that we are all assembled, I think it is time to start with dinner," Mr Wheeler announced.

"Lilian, you will not believe what happened yesterday evening," started Mr Wheeler the conversation. "Someone tried to break into our house!"

"What? Samuel didn't say anything to us," Lilian said shocked.

"It happened after he had left. Your mother and I were having dinner with a friend, Horace Connolly, when Michael called us. He was at our house to deliver me some important documents and he saw a man trying to open the back door. Michael routed him and called the police. Fortunately, Michael saw his face," Mr Wheeler explained.

"Well, 'at is great, Sir. I'm sure the Bobbies will find him," Peter said.

"Hopefully"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Mr Adams went to the entrance hall. A few minutes later, he returned. But he was not alone.

With him were two police officers.

Newkirk immediately tensed up. He never liked to be near Bobbies, especially not if you nicked people in the past to put food on the table. They were nine people at home, and his father had not always a job.

"I'm sorry if we interrupt anything, Mr Wheeler," said the older looking officer.

"The respectable London Police never interrupts anything" He stood up from his stool and asked, "What can I do for you, Inspector Tomlinson?"

"We are here to tell you that we maybe know who tried to break into your house. The witness, Michael Abbott, recognized him"

"Who is it?"

The police officer pointed at the table. "According to Mr Abbott's description, the burglar was Mr Newkirk"

Lilian's jaw dropped. "What? That's impossible!"

"I knew it!" yelled Mr Wheeler. "These Cockneys are all criminals"

Newkirk also rose to his feet and said, "I didn't do it, Sir. You have to believe me"

"And why should Michael lie?" questioned Mrs Wheeler.

"Maybe because he's jealous," pointed Lilian out.

"Jealous? Why would he be jealous?" asked Tomlinson, while his assistant took notes.

"We were a couple. I broke up with him, but he never accepted it and the fact that I'm with Peter now"

"Don't be ridiculous, Lilian. Michael is an honest boy, other than this thief," Mr Wheeler said. "Inspector Tomlinson, take him away. I want him to never enter my house again. Ever!"

"Please, Sir. You have to believe me. I would never break into your house," Newkirk pleaded.

Newkirk looked at Lilian, who stood right beside him. "Lil, I have never broken into someone's house. I would never do something like that"

He felt terrible for lying at Lilian, but he thought it was better to lie in that moment than to admit that he had broken into peoples' houses when he was a teenager. Especially if he was just trying to convince the police that he didn't do anything.

"I know that," she said. "You must be mistaken, Inspector"

"I'm afraid that we have to arrest you, Mr Newkirk, until we know exactly what happened," Inspector Tomlinson announced.

He went over to Newkirk and handcuffed him. It was the first time for Newkirk to be innocent while being arrested.

"Don't worry, Peter. Everything will turn out fine. Just don't say anything until your lawyer arrives at the station," reassured Lilian.

"My lawyer?" he asked.

"Trust me. Everything will turn out fine. I promise"

And with that, Newkirk was brought to the police station and Lilian was left behind.

She searched for her purse and said to Mr Adams, "Could you please bring me my coat?"

"What are you doing?" asked her mother.

"I will free my boyfriend"

Ten minutes later…

Lilian found herself knocking madly at the door.

For God's sake, please be home

The door was open and a sleepy figure stood in the doorframe. "What the hell is going on?"

"It's only half past eight. How can you be asleep?" asked Lilian.

"I didn't have much sleep the last days and I thought I would catch up on some sleep. But the better question is, what are you doing here? I haven't seen you in months"

"Can I come in? It's important"

"Sure, come in"

The still sleepy figure led Lilian into the living room and pointed to the couch. "Sit down"

"I need your help," she instantly came to the point.

"I already figured that out. What happened?"

"I need you as an attorney. Now. Peter was arrested and they accuse him of trying to break into my parents' house"

"Who is Peter? And why don't you just ask your father to help him?"

"Peter is my boyfriend. And my father is one of the people who accuse him. And on top of that, my father hates him. But he really didn't do anything, you have to believe me; and I need you to prove his innocence"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do you just ask me to work against your father? You do realize he is my boss, don't you? And I should risk that for someone I never even met before?"

"I know it's a lot to ask for, but you have to help me. You promised Samuel to help me if I ever needed legal advice," Lilian tried to coax him.

"You really want me to lose my job, don't you? Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get to where I am now? You are completely out of your mind if you think I would do something as stupid as to work against your father," the other person ranted.

Lilian looked to the ground. She tried hard to gulp back her tears.

"Alright, but I have to say I am really disappointed in you. What is about your codex to help the innocently accused? And that everyone deserves and has a right to have a lawyer?"

She walked to the door, but she turned around before she left and said, "You really are just like my father. And I thought you have sworn to never be like him"

Lilian leaned against the brick wall. She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down. She didn't know what to do after she was let down by the only person who could help Peter.

She stood there in silence for about five minutes. She heard the front door open, but she didn't open her eyes.

"Well, do you want to stand there forever, or do you want to get your boyfriend out of custody?"

She opened her eyes, staggered by what she just heard.

"You were right, Lilian. I never wanted to be like your father. And I can't believe I was willing to let someone be arrested for something they didn't do just to be on good terms with your father. Thank you for waking me up; literally speaking," he smirked.

Lilian threw her arms around the person standing in front of her. "Thank you so much. You are amazing"

"You have enough time to thank me later. Let's go to the police"