Mr Far rant was hardly so romantic a figure that a young girl would develop a tend re for him. He was in his late thirties, pleasant and slightly earnest, and he had a look of complete dog like devotion in his kindly eyes as they rested on Laura. She in turn, seemed unable to look directly at him, but with shy smiles and sideways looks indicated that she was not indifferent to his presence. Polly, catching Lord Henry"s speculative gaze as he a.s.similated this unlikely attraction, shared a look of conspiratorial indulgence with him. A moment later, he suggested that they go and admire Mrs Fitzgerald"s gardens together, leaving the smitten couple to progress their surprising romance.
"Who would have thought it?" Lord Henry said pensively, helping Polly descend the wide, shallow stone steps which led from the drawing-room to the chamomile lawn.
"I have the greatest regard for Far rant, but I never imagined he would set the world on fire! Yet Laura seems to find him agreeable enough, and has done so from the moment they first clapped eyes on each other at Fen church!"
He slanted a look down at Polly"s serene face.
"I am further in his debt, for I imagine you would not have consented to step outside with me were you not tempted to play matchmaker!
Shall we take a seat beneath that oak tree? You should not walk far until your ankle is fully mended. " They were still in full view of the house and it seemed perfectly proper.
The tree cast a cool shade and Polly sank on to the seat with some grat.i.tude.
"Thank goodness! It really is too hot in the full sun!"
"Are we really mere acquaintances, to be discussing the weather?" Lord Henry asked lazily.
"I can think of far more interesting topics!"
It occurred to Polly that the proximity of the house and the fact that anyone could see them from the window would not deter Lord Henry from his customary outrageous behaviour. His hand was lying along the back of the wooden seat behind her and she was almost certain that he was touching her hair. A moment later he had entwined one of her ringlets about his fingers, just brushing the sensitive skin of her neck as he did so. Polly moved her head sharply away.
"Will your parents look with kindness on an attachment between Lady Laura and Mr Far rant?" Polly asked, both to distract Lord Henry and also because she had a genuine interest in Laura"s future.
Henry sighed.
"I doubt it. They intend her for John Bel lars--" He stopped as he saw Polly"s face.
"I know Bel lars made you an offer and you refused him, and no doubt you share my opinion of him! But rank and consequence will always be in demand..." He shrugged, as though the thought made him a little uncomfortable.
"Is Lady Laura receptive to his suit?" Polly asked hesitantly. She did not wish to be thought prying, but she could not believe that a girl who was showing all the symptoms of love, as Laura was, could be easily persuaded to look at another man.
"She was indifferent to all the plans made for her," Henry said bluntly, "until she met Far rant. I observed her partiality from the start and wondered at it! But it will make matters devilishly difficult. Well--" he shrugged again "--we will see. " He smiled at Polly. " A little while ago we were discussing my interests here in Suffolk. What do you find to do with your time in this delightful backwater? " Polly accepted that he wished to change the subject.
"Oh, I go riding when it is not too hot, and I walk and read and paint.
I have a fondness for watercolours although I would say my talent is small.
And as you have seen, there is much company to he had."
"Yes, though not all of it congenial," Lord Henry observed.
"I find myself becoming ever less tolerant of poor company these days.
I rate intelligent conversation and good company above all other claims of rank and importance!"
"Outrageous!" Polly said, trying not to laugh.
"You were not always so selective, sir!"
Henry raised an eyebrow.
"Can you be taking me to task, Lady Polly?"
There was a martial light in Polly"s eye.
"Your attentions are bestowed somewhat indiscriminately, my lord!"
"I protest! There is no truth in those rum ours!"
Polly looked sceptical.
"How can you deny it, sir? I suppose that at the least I should commend your taste in admiring my sister-in-law!"
Lord Henry raised a lazy eyebrow.
"I collect that you refer to Lady Sea grave?"
"How many other sisters-in-law do I have, sir?" Polly snapped, wishing she had not started on this line of conversation.
"Can you deny that you hold her in great esteem?"
"Certainly not!" Henry said promptly.
"She is a woman of great good sense and I admire her extremely! But that is all there is to it!"
Polly noted how relieved she felt and perversely wished to punish him.
"That at least could be understood I suppose! But as for Lady Bolt! Do you forget that I saw you with my own eyes at Richmond?"
"Ah." Lord Henry stretched his long legs and admired the polish on his boots.
"I wondered whether you would ever have the courage to challenge me with that particular incident!"
"Courage!" Polly was really annoyed now.
"It does not require courage, sir, only a little less regard for convention than you would usually find in me! I certainly have the fort.i.tude to accuse you of trifling with my feelings and of falling prey to Lady Bolt"s blowsy charms!"
Henry was laughing now, which only added to Polly"s anger. Normally she would never have spoken thus. To challenge a gentleman about his behaviour was simply not done, particularly if that behaviour involved a member of the demimonde.
"How unladylike in you to disparage a rival! I would never have thought it of you. Lady Polly!"
Polly was incensed.
"Lady Bolt is no rival of mine! She is welcome to you, sir!"
She tried to rise, but Henry caught her wrist and held her still.
"You think, then, that I had arranged to meet Lady Bolt at Richmond?"
Polly tried to sound scornful.