"Oh..." Marianne trailed off, her eyebrows furrowing in feigned confusion. "I thought you knew."

She paused for a bit. Outwardly it appeared as though she was perplexed, but truly Marianne's head was creating the best possible way to present the information to Mr. Crouch. She was aiming to do it in such a way, that she would strike a cord in his heart. Make him feel guilty and make her daughter appear the slighted martyr.

"She came here hysterical, Mr. Crouch. I couldn't very well understand what had happened, at first. She told me you had a fight about some baby and that you left. She told me she is with child and how scared she was that her child — your child might grow up without his father!" She stared at him solemnly. "I suggested she visit your sister... As a woman, she would be understanding of her plight."

That was most certainly not what had happened, but what harm could it do to imply that Mr. Crouch had been intimidated by his looming responsibilities and left to go drinking? He wouldn't want to appear the man who abandoned his pregnant wife, if not for Melody, then for his family's sake. Even if he abandoned her, his family would be forced to support her.