The Fifth Child

Harriet Walker, 24, and David Lovatt, 30, reluctantly attend a crowded party for the office where David is an architect and Harriet works in sales. Their peers regard them as old-fashioned anomalies in the era of London’s “Swinging Sixties.” Harriet believes that her virginity is a “gift” to save and prefers marriage to a career. David, the son of divorced parents, wants a wife who prioritizes a family and home that he can protect. Disdaining the lively party as garish, the two recognize each other as kindred spirits and quickly fall in love. Months later, they marry and move into a three-story Victorian house outside London, with plans to fill it with several children.

The suburban property has idyllic views of birds and an overgrown garden that enchant the new owners. On their first day in the house, the couple lies on a giant bed left behind by the previous owners, overcome with emotions. Despite Harriet’s intention to work for two more years before starting a family and her hesitation about having unprotected sex, they have sex several times, and she becomes pregnant. David is content, but Harriet is concerned about their mortgage and having children sooner than planned.