Free (2011) Only the Innocent by Rachel Abbott

considerable sum” from his father, mainly in property, which is managed by his company in Canary Wharf. But Hugo prefers to focus as much of his time as possible on a charitable foundation that he set up, which helps young prostitutes who end up on the streets through no fault of their own. Isn’t that an amazingly good cause? I asked him why he had chosen this type of charity, and it’s the most incredible story so I asked permission to tape him as research for a programme. He said I could record it, but he wasn’t sure if he would let me use it. Anyway, this is what he told me.
    ‘A bit of rather embarrassing family history came to light some years ago. The wealth of the family is inherited, of course - but it turns out that the family fortune was built on slavery back in the 19th century. My great great grandfather failed to adhere to the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in the early part of the century, and continued trading in various areas of the British Empire until well into the middle of the century. He invested his ill gotten gains in property. There was some talk of my great grandfather - his son - also doing rather well out of prostitution, although we haven’t been able to prove that. But most of the working girls in that era were considered of a lower class, and he’s reputed to have founded a few clubs with ‘clean’ girls for his rich friends. I can’t find any evidence to that effect, but apparently there was one prostitute to every twelve adult males in London in his time, so I wouldn’t be surprised. Now that would make rather a good subject for a documentary!’
    ‘So that’s why you chose to help prostitutes?’ I asked.
    ‘Well, I could hardly help slaves, and as this all came to light when my father was alive, he thought of the idea and I’ve developed it from there. I called it the Allium Foundation.’
    I love alliums. Then Hugo told me that they are part of the onion family. Did you know that?
    ‘I like the analogy,’ he said. ‘What starts off as a rather pungent, multi-layered bulb forces its way out through the ground with a strong and straight stem, culminating in a glorious and complex flower. I like the parallel with the girls’ families - what’s beneath the surface is not very sweet, but given some appropriate cultivation it has the potential for a beautiful result.’
    I can only conclude from everything that he said that he is not only charming, but he is sensitive and compassionate. At this point, I was beginning to feel that I really shouldn’t have come. It was dangerous.
    We set off for the restaurant, and it was all that I thought it would be; discreet, sophisticated and subtly decorated in relaxing stone colours. We were shown to our table, and Hugo quietly moved the waiter aside so that he could personally pull my chair out, making sure I was comfortably settled before he sat down himself. The waiter came back to the table with menus, but Hugo waved them away.
    ‘Tell me what you like, Laura? What sort of food gives you pleasure, and what wine do you enjoy the most?’
    Nobody’s ever asked me this before, and I didn’t know where to start.
    ‘All right, why don’t you tell me any types of food that you don’t like?’
    That’s a pretty short list, as you know, but as I talked I felt that Hugo was really interested in me. So I told him about the meals I’d eaten that I’d enjoyed the most. He prompted me from time to time with ideas, and after about ten minutes he called the waiter over and placed an order - without further reference to the menu. Really impressive stuff. I was bowled over.
    ‘I’m glad you let me order for you, Laura. I consider it an honour to look after a lady, particularly one as beautiful as you are. I find these days that there are fewer and fewer women who are prepared to relinquish control.’
    I have to admit that the idea of him controlling me flashed through my mind in rather lurid detail. Then I brought myself up short when