Free A Hallowed Place by Caro Fraser

Cameron is a member of Lincoln’s Inn is obviously a help, plus the fact that he’s a chum of the Estates Committee chairman, but if he’s out of the picture …’
    Leo sighed. ‘I don’t see why we have to move so far afield. God, Lincoln’s Inn … It’s not like the Temple. There’s no sense of intimacy.’
    ‘I know you’re not keen on the idea, Leo, but the thing has to be faced. Five Caper Court is too small. Camilla shouldn’t have to share with Gerald and Anthony’s always complaining that he hasn’t got enough room for large conferences. The clerks’ room is bulging at the seams. There simply isn’t anything suitable in the Temple. And it’snot just to do with space. There’s our image as well. We have to move with the times.’
    ‘You’re beginning to sound like Jeremy.’
    ‘Like it or not, Leo, we have no option. If you can find another solution to the problem, we’ll all willingly consider it.’
    ‘I suppose I’m simply more of a creature of habit than I realised.’
    ‘We all have to get used to change.’ Instinctively, abruptly, Roderick asked, ‘How’s the divorce going?’
    ‘It’s going,’ replied Leo. ‘Decree nisi last July. Just tidying up the loose ends.’
    ‘I’m sorry it came unstuck. I was surprised, I must say. Lovely girl.’
    ‘Lovely,’ agreed Leo. ‘But it didn’t surprise me. I wasn’t cut out for marriage.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Let’s head back. I’m expecting some papers from Middleton Potts.’
    On the way out, Leo and Roderick met Sarah crossing Caper Court from the cloisters.
    ‘Hello,’ she said, giving both a girlish smile.
    ‘Hello,’ replied Leo. ‘Pupillage going well? Not interfering unduly with your social life, I trust?’
    ‘No - but thanks for asking. I’m working quite hard, as a matter of fact.’
    ‘How reassuring.’ Leo held open the door of 5 Caper Court to let Sarah pass through and watched her as she went upstairs.
    ‘What’s she like, David’s pupil? You seem to know her quite well.’
    ‘I met her a few times before she came here. Her father’s the Recorder of London.’
    ‘Ah …
that
Colman.’ Roderick nodded.
    ‘As to her abilities, I have no idea. I’ve only ever encountered her on a social level.’ As he said this, Leo could not help smiling at the inadequacy of this expression to sum up his numerous and very erotic sexual exploits with Sarah. A dangerous irritant she might be, but the sight of her neat bottom in its tight black skirt, the haughty way she had of flicking back her blonde hair, still had the capability to arouse him. Not that he had any intention of involving himself with a woman ever again. They wanted too much - too much time, affection and attention. Men, on the whole, were less demanding. As he considered this, Leo’s thoughts turned to Joshua, whom he had arranged to see that night. Was he about to make a complete fool of himself? He might be entirely wrong about the boy. Maybe he should just forget the whole thing.
    He sighed. ‘Oh, Felicity - I’m expecting some papers from Andrew Donoghue. Have they arrived?’ Felicity nodded and handed them to him. Leo noticed that she looked dispirited and was unusually quiet. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked. ‘You don’t seem your usual effervescent self.’
    She gave a wan smile. ‘Yeah, Mr Davies, I’m fine. Just hormones.’
    ‘Mmm. Quite.’ Leo unfolded the papers and began to scan them as he made his way up to his room.
    How close to the truth that had been, thought Felicity. She felt dreadful, completely washed out, and she thought she knew why. Not that she’d had morning sickness or anything like that, but her boobs had been aching like hell, and - well, she just knew. She glanced over at her bag, inwhich lay the pregnancy tester she’d bought from Boots at lunch time. It wasn’t going to tell her anything she hadn’t already guessed at. So why was she putting off doing it? Because as long as she didn’t face up to