Author's note: It seems from your comments that a few of you have been peeking ahead… did I leave my password somewhere? Or is my writing becoming that predictable?

Oh, and before I get pinged by someone for an unannounced sex scene - there are distinct sexual references in this chapter, but not explicit enough for me to change the rating.

ONE MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING

"It's nothing. Tommy's just being over-cautious, Doctor."

The doctor looked over the rim of his thick glasses at her. "He's right, Ms Havers. If you've had a head injury then suddenly faint, it needs to be checked."

Barbara groaned. "That was two months ago. I'm fine now." She tried to get out of bed but was hit with a sudden rush of nausea. She groaned again and lay back against the pillow. "It's just a bug or something."

"Did you hit your head again?"

"No," Tommy assured him. "I was standing next to her and caught her. I put her in the recovery position, but she came around quickly. I put her to bed and called you."

"Any other symptoms?"

"She's been off her food for a few days, Dr Brown. That's very unusual."

The portly doctor removed the thermometer from her ear. "Your temperature is normal. I'll run some tests. Can we start with a urine sample?"

"Is it necessary? I just have a bug. I'll be okay in a few days. Tommy's a fusspot. Did he tell you we both had to resign because he didn't want me in danger?"

"His Lordship has always been very protective of his family," the doctor replied. Barbara nodded.

Tommy helped Barbara to the bathroom, but she shrugged him off. She knew he was worried, but she was angry that he had called his doctor over. "I'll be fine. You're overreacting," she hissed.

"Possibly, but I'm not taking any chances."

Barbara slammed the ensuite door. Until yesterday, she had felt well. She was sure it was just a bug. If Tommy was going to behave like this every time she felt slightly unwell, it was going to cost him a fortune in doctor's bills.

"Here," she said as she handed the warm sample pot to the doctor before Tommy steered her back to bed.

"Thank you. The colour is a little dark but it's not cloudy." He placed the bottle on the side table and removed some test sticks from his bag. Barbara folded her arms and stared ahead. This was becoming humiliating.

"No blood. No sugar. Ah, I think we have the reason."

"Anything serious?" Tommy asked as he gripped Barbara's hand and squeezed it a bit too hard.

Dr Brown looked at them. "It depends how you view it, M'Lord. Ms Havers, I believe you are pregnant."

"What? No!" The colour drained from Barbara's face.

"I take it this is unplanned?"

"We… we've only been together a month. We're engaged, but we've only been having sex for a month."

The doctor looked around anxiously as if trapped. "It only takes one time, Ms Havers."

Tommy sat on the bed and put his arms around her. "Barbara, it's wonderful news. We said we wanted children."

Barbara began to cry. Tears rolled down her face. "Yes."

Tommy wiped them away with his thumb. "You are happy aren't you?"

Barbara nodded. "Just shocked. It's only been three weeks. I never thought it'd happen so quickly. Not at our age."

"I told you I was fertile."

Barbara hit his arm. "Cocky bastard." She pulled him to her and kissed him.

"Thank you, Doctor. Is there anything we need to do tonight?" Tommy asked when Barbara let go of him.

The doctor laughed. "No, I'd say it's already done. Make an appointment in the next few days and we will do a full examination and refer you to an obstetrician. If you can bear the nausea, Ms Havers, then I'd prefer not to prescribe anything but we can discuss all your options at my office. In the meantime, there is no need to do anything differently other than avoid alcohol, soft cheese and shellfish."

"I'm fine. Thank you, Doctor. And I'm sorry I was rude. I thought Tommy was being over protective."

"Judging by his face, I think you should get used to that."

Barbara looked at Tommy and rolled her eyes. "I don't mind, now we know there is something worth protecting."

Tommy took her hand and kissed it. "I'll be back in a minute, Panda-bear. I'll show Dr Brown out."

Barbara sank back into the cushions trying to assess her feelings. She was happy and scared. Then it dawned on her. The child would arrive in eight months. Everyone would know it was conceived out of wedlock. She imagined the look on his mother's face. His family had been happy for them and had welcomed her, but now they would think the worst.

"You don't want it do you?"

Tommy was standing at the door looking at her. His voice was hard. She could not tell if it was anger or fear. She reached out her hand. "Yes, I do. Very much."

Tommy sat on the bed and engulfed her in his arms. "Then tell me what's wrong? We should be happy."

"I am. But your mother!"

"Mother? She'll be delighted."

"No, she won't. Not when I waddle down the aisle in May, six months pregnant."

Tommy laughed. "I'm rather looking forward to seeing that."

"No! People will think… you know what they'll say."

"That old Tommy still has it in him."

"No! That I trapped you and you're only marrying someone like me because of it."

Tommy lifted her chin and made her look at him. "Wait here."

"Where do think I'm going to go? The unmarried mothers' home?"

He smiled then left the room. Barbara sat on the edge of the bed. How could she be pregnant already? They had taken precautions at first. It was only after one night when they drank a bottle of champagne under the stars in his backyard they, well more Barbara she had to admit, had been particularly randy. Tommy had offered to run upstairs and fetch the condoms, but she had wanted him there and then and did not want to spoil the mood. He had asked if she was sure. At the time she was, very certain. Now she shook her head at her recklessness. Her cycle had never been that overly predictable since her shooting. What mathematically should have been safe was not guaranteed. Of course after that rather special night, neither of them had wanted to return to using condoms. She sighed. Their fate had been inevitable.

Barbara heard Tommy bounding up the stairs. He was grinning when he came through the door. He looked happy and that eased her mind. She was happy too, underneath her fears.

"Perfect."

"What?"

Tommy knelt before her. "I was going to say this on Friday night after the Met's farewell party for us, but now is more appropriate. When we had our conversation, I was so worried about you rejecting me that I didn't think about the main purpose of the night."

"I thought the purpose was to convince me that you were a good investment."

"A good investment?"

She smiled and stroked his cheek playfully. "It was like being at a horse sale. You had all your stud papers and medical records. I almost expected you to pull out a genealogical chart and explain how you're related to royalty."

"I am sorry it came across like that."

"Your 437 reasons were impressive though, especially number 250."

Tommy grinned at her. "Is reading that all it took to convince you?"

Barbara kissed him. "No, it was the practical application that swung it."

"Mmm, I noticed you rather liked 251 as well."

"All of it." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

Tommy broke away, panting. "Before we do that I have something to ask. The main point of the conversation was to convince you that I love you and ask you if you'd be willing to spend the rest of our lives together." Tommy pulled a small red velvet box from his pocket. "I had this ring made

Barbara from one of our Asherton antique emeralds. I know you had your heart set on a May wedding, but I don't want to wait, especially now. I want to share the next few months as man and wife. Will you make me the happiest man on Earth, and become my wife in a month?"

"A month?"

"We need 28 days to get a licence."

Barbara smiled then ruffled his hair. One lock fell over his eye. Everything about him was gorgeous. "Yes. Yes, I will."

Tommy embraced her and they fell backwards onto the bed. Even in that position, he managed to find her finger and slip on the ring. Barbara held it up to the light. "It's beautiful!"

"Just like you."

Barbara gave him a fierce kiss as she stuck her hands in the back pockets of his jeans and pressed against him, slowly rubbing across his crotch. "Is being really, really horny normal?"

He laughed and then kissed her neck. "For me or you?"

"Me."

He nibbled her earlobe. "Like that night in the backyard?"

"Fifty times worse."

He rolled her on top of him then pulled her shirt out of her jeans as she tore at his belt. "Then have your way with me. I'm all yours."

ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING

Barbara ran through the list of things to do and crossed off buying wine, writing place cards and finalising the flower selection.

"Are you sure your Mother is happy to stay with her friend?"

Tommy looked up from his newspaper. "Positive. She suggested it."

"And Judith has confirmed she's bringing her new bloke?"

"Yes. David somebody-or-other."

"You don't seem worried about any of this, Tommy."

He put his newspaper down and patted his lap. "I'm not. You have everything under control. Come here, Panda-bear."

She nestled into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder. "Sorry. I just want it perfect for you."

"For me? Not for us?"

"I'd would have been happy to grab a couple of witnesses off the street."

"You don't mind do you? I ran off last time. This time I want to make a more definitive commitment in front of family and friends. I want to tell the world I love you."

"I love you, Tommy."

"I love you too. Want me to show you how much?" He kissed her neck, just below her ear.

"We have to collect the rings in an hour."

Tommy looked up at the clock. "At this time of the day it's about ten minutes drive, five to dress… that still gives us three quarters of an hour."

"Ohh, mmm." Barbara's hand snaked under his shirt in response to both of his sliding up her back under her jumper. When he undid her bra, she resigned herself to being late.

An hour later they were still making love on the couch. "We can't do it again," she murmured as Tommy moved her slowly into position for number 250. "The jeweller."

Tommy found his mobile and dialled. "Mr Jordan? Hi, it's Thomas Lynley… Yes, look something has come up and it's too hard for us to make it in to see you today. Can I change our appointment to the same time on Monday?… Excellent. Thank you. Have a good weekend. Good bye."

Barbara was biting his shoulder to stop laughing. "Something has come up and it's too hard for us to make it in? Really, Lord Asherton."

"I was telling the truth. It's extremely hard."

Barbara yelped with laughter as Tommy rolled them over and pressed his case. She sat up and straddled him. "I think I have a solution for that."

"I knew you would."

"I call it Number 561."

"561?" Tommy groaned in appreciation as she moved into position. "I think 561 might become a new favourite."