On the fifth Sunday, Lucas had arrived at 3 to pick Jo up to head to the park. It had taken him some persuasion to get her to come along to the outing.

Jo had twice refused his offer of lunch that week, both because of Elizabeta and because of the looks she'd received in the staff cafeteria on Monday.

There were several female employees who had displayed more than a passing interest in Lucas North and the news that he had succeeded in getting one of the members of his section pregnant had been hot gossip indeed. Things became even more interesting when it was revealed that apparently his wife was still on the scene, and that the other staff member involved was none other than Joanna Portman - the same Joanna Portman everyone had been expecting to be carted off to Tring "any day now" for the past few months.

On Wednesday morning he'd pulled her aside and asked her what she was doing on Sunday.

"I have a family thing," she'd said quickly, surprised he was even considering spending time with her at the weekend any more.

"All day?" he'd asked.

She would have liked to have been able to say yes, but the truth was despite her profession, she hated lying in her personal life unless it was absolutely necessary.

"In the morning," she responded, sighing.

"Why don't we do something in the afternoon then?" Lucas suggested persuasively.

"Do you really think that's a good idea in light of everything?," Jo asked hesitantly, hoping he wasn't intending to turn on his charm, given that she knew full well she was unlikely to stand a chance of resisting him.

"Of course, we're going to be parents, it's important we both get along," Lucas replied with a winning smile.

Jo had to admit it was hard to argue with his logic – or his smile.

She nodded, "Ok then," she replied half heartedly.

"I'll see you at 3 then," he'd replied cheerily.

Lucas had planned to take Jo to Hyde Park and they arrived just after 3.30. The park was packed with families enjoying a Sunday stroll on what had turned out to be a beautifully clear, warm Sunday.

After strolling for an hour or so, they paused to rest on a bench for a few minutes and observe the scene.

"Am I right in thinking that work has been difficult this week," Lucas asked softly, looking at Jo with concern.

"Everyone knows now," she replied glumly, thinking of the looks she'd received in the staff cafeteria that week. "I'm sure they all consider me to be some kind of wanna be man stealing hussy."

Lucas smiled at her encouragingly, "It's best not to be too concerned what other people think – they'll soon find something else to talk about and leave you alone."

"I sincerely hope so," said Jo quietly.

They sat in silence for a few minutes as a young couple walked by with a baby in a pram.

"Just think," said Lucas contentedly, "that'll be us in a couple of months."

"Will it?" asked Jo, uncertain.

"Of course," Lucas said laughing, "I know that we're both busy, but I'd like to think we'd make time to spend with the baby."

Jo nodded. She supposed it was some relief that Lucas was still prepared to spend some time with the baby but when she thought of how he would be spending the rest of his spare time, the idea didn't seem to bring her as much comfort as she had expected it would.

Jo turned to look at him and asked suddenly, "Do you think we'll make good parents? Do you think we're doing the right thing?"

Lucas took her hand, folding her delicate fingers inside his firm grip, his thumb gently caressing her skin.

"I think we'll make excellent parents," Lucas replied decisively, then added, "I think any child would be lucky to have you for their mother and I'll be there to help you and support you."

Jo smiled faintly and leaned in fractionally closer to him as his arm moved to rest on her shoulder, wondering why she found Lucas's touch so oddly reassuring and what exactly Elizabeta would have to say if she saw them right now.

Five minutes later, Lucas took her hand and pulled her up from the park bench and smilingly enquired whether she had time for afternoon tea before heading home. She nodded and replied she did.

Shortly afterwards they found themselves in a little café just around the corner from the park. Lucas went to order morning tea while Jo went to find somewhere quiet to sit. She selected a table by the window where they could discreetly observe the passers by.

Lucas came back with two biscuits on a plate and an order number. Just as he was about to deposit them on the table there was a tap on his shoulder and he turned round to find a pleasant looking man in his late thirties beaming at him. "Lucas North I presume?" he said laughing.

"Jim," Lucas said grinning, "Haven't seen you in a long while – how've you been?" he asked, gripping his hand and shaking it firmly.

"Great, married now, two kids too, so I have to keep out of trouble."

"Glad to hear it, trouble did have a way of finding you in the old days," Lucas replied laughing.

Lucas took his friends arm and ushered him over to where Jo was sitting, "Jo this is my friend Jim, we were at University together. Jim, this is my girlfriend Jo."

Jo looked at Lucas, startled, and had had to ask his friend to repeat his name again as she listened distractedly to their chatter and wondered if she had heard Lucas correctly or whether pregnancy was playing tricks with her hearing, as well as everything else.