"Good afternoon. Lady Polly," Lord Henry March- night said politely.
Shock at his sudden appearance and the recollection that she had failed in her duty to keep an eye on his sister held Polly silent for a moment.
Henry was smiling very slightly.
"Have you lost your party again, perhaps?"
"No, of course not," Polly snapped, brushing the gra.s.s from her skirt and feeling foolish at having been caught in such a situation.
"I saw the Dit tons but a moment ago and I have been waiting for Lady Laura, who--" " Who has tricked you into thinking she was having her fortune told whilst in fact she is making secret a.s.signations," Lord Henry finished a little grimly.
"I take it that that is why I find you outside Madame Rose"s tent, Lady Polly? You were not thinking of parting with your money in return for the a.s.surance that a tall, fair gentleman would presently sweep you off your feet?"
"Oh!" A variety of emotions, mostly uncomfortable, warred for ascendancy within Polly. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of a reply.
She accepted Lord Henry"s arm and they started to walk slowly between the booths.
"It is too bad of Laura to take advantage of your good nature," he said, after a moment, seeing that Polly"s innate good manners made it impossible for her to criticise his sister.
"In mitigation I can only say that she is very young and very much in love, and has not yet realised that true friendship should not be abused."
"If only she had confided in me--" Polly broke off, not wishing to suggest that she would have helped Lady Laura deceive her family. Lord Henry"s sudden appearance in search of Laura and his grimness in the face of his sister"s behaviour suggested that she certainly did not have his support.
"Is it certain?" she asked carefully.
"Do you know that she has arranged to meet Mr Fan-ant? I did think that I had seen them a moment ago."
"Indeed you did." Henry sounded rather grim.
"I saw them myself, walking past the gunsmith"s stall. In fairness to Laura, I do not think that they mean to do more than meet and enjoy each other"s company, but she should know better... Of course, she had no notion that I should be here today and see through her deception."
This brought Polly"s mind back to other matters, equally disagreeable.
"I.
understood you to be at Weller den," she said, a little crossly.
"You are forever coming and going, are you not, sir?"
Henry laughed softly as he noted the martial light in her eyes.
"Ah, the gossips have been busy again! Indeed, I spent a few days there--" " In most entertaining company, I understand," Polly said, despite herself.
"Oh, the best! Can you doubt it?"
Polly almost stamped her foot, but knew he was only trying to provoke her.
"Well, I dare say our tastes differ there, my lord."
"I should hope so!" Henry laughed again as he saw her look of fury.
"Come, you know that I travel widely and have many interests. Lady Polly! I am only teasing you!"
It was in some ways fortunate that they came across Mr Far rant and Lady Laura at that moment. The were standing before a small flock of chickens, apparently engrossed.
"The best you could buy, sir," the poultry man was saying eagerly, "and a better price you will not find---" "Henry!" Lady Laura said, in horrified tones. Her gaze travelled to Polly and a deep blush came into her cheeks.
"Lady Polly, I thought--" " I doubt Lady Polly wishes to hear your excuses now, Laura," Henry said, fixing his sister with a cold, quelling gaze.
"You have used her most shamefully. As for you, Far rant--" Henry"s gaze turned to the unlikely Romeo "--I should have expected better of you!"
Charles Far rant started to stammer apologies and Laura to cry quietly.
The poultry man took his cap off and scratched his head at this unexpected turn of events. They were attracting quite a lot of interest. Polly touched Henry"s arm. She had seen the Dit tons, with their unerring instinct for scandal, approaching down the row of stalls.
"This will have to wait," she whispered hastily.
"We must all pretend that we met up by chance, I think. Mrs Dit ton!"
She turned with a beaming smile to greet the lady.
"How glad I am to have found you again, ma"am! And only see, Mr Far rant and Lord Henry are here as well! How the good weather brings people out of doors!"
Henry was smiling a little at such inanity, but he followed Polly"s lead easily enough.
"Far rant has told me that the Fairs here are renowned for their local colour, ma"am, and I thought to take a look. I am returned from Buckingham shire only yesterday..."
The image of Susanna Bolt came into Polly"s mind again, incongruous amidst all the fresh air and sunlight. It could only serve to make her ill temper worse. Laura was sniffing a little and Polly took her arm, drawing her away from Miss Dit ton"s prying eyes. Any enjoyment had gone from the day.
"I"m sorry," Laura whispered as Polly hustled her back towards the carriages.
"It was not that I did not trust you, but Charles said I was not to tell anyone! I have been very foolish..."
unlikely that Lady Laura would be permitted to remain in Suffolk now that this not-so-secret romance had been found to be nourishing, and Laura had not really done anything very bad. She looked at the girl"s reddened eyes and noticed with a flash of irritation that Miss Dit ton was almost running in her attempt to catch up with them. The tears could not be concealed.
How then to explain them? Her talent for deception was being stretched to the limit.
"You should not believe all that the fortuneteller told you, Laura,"
she said loudly.
"I might have known that she would upset you!"
Miss Dit ton"s avid face appeared over Laura"s shoulder.
"Oh, whatever can she have said?" She asked eagerly.
"Dear Lady Laura, do tell!"
It was Lord Henry who answered, a hint of malice in his grey eyes.