Dorothy was horrified when she became pregnant and then learned that her boyfriend was not free to marry her. She had just found a reasonably well paying job with prospects, but she was far from rich... and if she lost her job, she would not be able to support a baby. Bill was also unable to help with money. She decided not to tell her parents about this as it would probably shock them very much. She knew they would be willing to help but her father was a clergyman and also far from well to do. She decided to keep the baby's existence a secret and to support the child on her own, if she could.
Bill's wife proved willing to help her with managing the birth and keeping it secret.. and Dorothy took some time off work to go out of London and have the baby in a private nursing home. She was tempted to tell her mother but refrained, believing that it was her problem and her burden to carry and that she should not shock and upset her mother and father.
Her cousin Ivy (together with Ivy's mother) lived in the country and made a modest living looking after children whose parents were unable to care for them, so towards the end of her pregnancy, Dorothy decided to ask Ivy for help. She knew that Ivy was an affectionate capable foster mother and would be good at looking after the baby, but she was part of the family so there was a slight risk of the secret slipping out to her parents. Just before the birth she asked Ivy if she could take on another child, who would "not have any legal father" - but not mentioning that she was the mother.
In early January 1924, Sayers' son John Anthony was born and she told Ivy the truth, trusting her not to be judgemental and to keep the baby's parents secret. After handing over the child, she returned to her job at Bensons.
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