Ben shifted his eyes to the floor. He supposed he ought to have expected this, but that didn't mean he was entirely ready to discuss it with Aldous.

"We've talked about it," he admitted. "But —" he hesitated. If he could have just said yes, let's do it, everything would be over, wouldn't it? He could stay at Aldous' home while they found the solicitor. Aldous would help with that part, surely. A few weeks or months of unpleasantness and then Melody would have been little more than a bad dream.

"But I can't do that to her," he said, shaking his head. "Not after her parents disowned her. She wouldn't have anywhere to go."