"You look utterly delightful. Lady Polly! Perhaps you would care to join me on the balcony whilst you dry off?"
Before Polly had chance to demur and effect a discreet withdrawal, he had scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the ladder and out on to the balcony. There was another blanket and a couple of cushions on the bare boards and the remains of what looked like Henry"s breakfast.
For a long time they sat together under the shelter of the eaves, watching the rain upon the river. Neither of them spoke. Polly was possessed by the most extraordinary feeling of peacefulness and did not wish to break the spell.
Eventually the rain retreated and the first streaks of pale blue sky appeared again. She stirred.
"Whatever are you doing here, Harry? I thought that you had gone..."
Henry gestured towards the rod and line lying discarded on the edge of the balcony.
"I was fishing:-- until you came to disturb the peace of my retreat!"
He hesitated.
"Truth to tell, I was thinking..." He shot Polly a glance.
"I was coming to see you later, but you have beaten me to it."
The sun came out suddenly, swirling across the dark river water and dazzling them.
Polly suddenly found that she could not meet his eyes.
"What were you coming to discuss with me?" she asked shyly, tracing a pattern in the dust with one finger.
"I thought--last night you intimated that there was nothing more to say."
Henry shifted a little, leaning back against the wall. "Yes, that was wicked of me. I could no more lose you now than I could cut out a part of myself.
Please--" suddenly there was raw feeling in his voice "--tell me that we may put all the misunderstanding and misery behind us and that you will marry me."
At last Polly was able to look at him, but with astonishment rather than anything else.
"But I haven"t had chance to explain why I did not tell you--" she began.
"I don"t need explanations." Henry took her hand in his and drew her closer.
"I knew last night that you trusted me enough for me to be the first one you came to with a secret. That is enough for me. I know that you must love me as much as I love you."
"Harry--" Polly"s voice broke.
"I believe you are almost too forgiving..."
His strained face broke into a smile.
"Do you feel that I should castigate you for the business with Tristan Dit ton? I had felt that we had grown closer over the past few months and the business with Dit ton did set me back." He grimaced.
"I did not understand-- still do not, to tell the truth--why you could not confide in me. You must have known that I would not have shamed Miss Mark ham by making the knowledge public, and yet you did not trust me--" The pain in his voice caused Polly to look up at last.
"I wanted to tell you," she said hesitantly.
"That night at the a.s.sembly, I was on the verge of telling when Tristan came in and put a stop to our conversation. I know I should have trusted you more--all those times I doubted you, the foolishness over the smuggling, my suspicions over your activities in London--you must think me so stupid!" Her voice broke. "I don"t know why I could not commit myself, Harry... I was so close to trusting you, yet I always held back, perhaps because I have loved you for so long that I could not bear to take the final risk and gamble on losing it all! I found it very difficult to forgive myself for refusing you all those years ago!"
Henry slid an arm around her and pulled her to him so that her head rested comfortingly against his shoulder.
"I must take my share of blame," he said, very softly.
"I fostered the impression of a wastrel and a rake, which is scarcely the kind of behaviour that would encourage a gently bred girl to rely on me! I could have warned you about Dit ton--I knew you would not tell anyone, but I was afraid that you would not be able to behave naturally in his company if you knew he was a criminal. If I had to take the same decision now, I would have to do the same..."
"I know," Polly said softly. Henry looked so wretched that she touched his cheek.
"You did the right thing. When I was thinking about it all last night, I remembered how you had risked the whole endeavour to save me in the riot in London. You must have cared a great deal to do that for me..."
They sat quietly for a long time. Henry"s arm warm about her, his cheek rough against the smoothness of hers.
"Polly," Henry said at last, his voice m.u.f.fled against her hair, "you have not yet agreed to marry me! " "Oh!" Polly turned to him and their lips met with a tenderness that was both sweet and instinctive.
"I a.s.sume," Henry said, much later, "that that is an acceptance. I should not allow another rejection anyway! " Polly snuggled closer to him.
"How much time we have wasted! When may we be married. Harry?"
"In the interests of making up for lost time," Henry said seriously,
"I.
suggest the wedding should be very soon. Tomorrow, perhaps? " Polly sat up and stared at him in confusion.
"Tomorrow? But how--" " I thought, perhaps, that you might be persuaded to elope with me. " Polly looked at him for a long time.
"You mean-- to come away with you now?" she asked, a little breathlessly.
"But--" She saw the faint look of withdrawal that came into his eyes.
"I.
understand if you do not wish to do so--" "No!" Polly put out a hand quickly and touched his. It was suddenly essential to make him understand. "Henry, listen. I will gladly go with you. I would follow you anywhere, or do anything you asked." The tears gathered in her eyes.
"Oh, I am so very happy to have the chance to run away with you!"
Suddenly they were both laughing like children, tumbled back once more in each other"s arms.
"I had not intended to go to Gretna," Henry said after more kisses had been exchanged, "but my home at Ruth ford is but a day"s journey from here, and I have a special licence and a priest who would be very happy to marry off another of the March night brood! Indeed, I imagine he would be particularly glad to officiate at my wedding since he has been deploring my bachelor life this age! " Polly stood up.
"I had best return to the Court and gather my belongings.
Oh! " She looked down at the blanket still clutched about her.
"I had forgotten--my dress is still by the pool! I can hardly return to the house like this or we would have to be married even sooner to avoid Mama falling into the va pours!" She looked suddenly shy.
"Will you help me down the steps. Harry?"