Part 1 (1/2)

Lady Polly.

by Nicola Comick.

Prologue.

QnyQ 1812.

You're a d.a.m.ned fool.

Henry! ” Simon Verey leant on the table and addressed his friend in tones that would have led Henry March night to call him out under any other circ.u.mstances.

”Leave it a few weeks--a month, even--for everyone to lose interest in Miss Jacques's vicious rum ours! If you go to Lady Paulersbury's rout tonight, they'll make mincemeat of you!”

Lord Henry's only response was a rather lopsided grin as he tilted his head to consider the intricate folds of his violet cravat in the mirror.

”The Napoleon,” he mused.

”Rather a neat style, don't you think, Simon?

Languis.h.i.+ng and romantic, as is appropriate for this evening! Do you think that it will bring me the luck of the French? ” ”In love or in war?” Verey asked drily.

Lord Henry's only reply was another smile.

”I regret that I cannot take your advice, Simon,” he continued.

”I must see Lady Polly Sea grave tonight.

I am hoping that I may still persuade her to consent to be my wife. ”

Verey's lips tightened. He had seen that reckless look in his friend's grey eyes before and knew it promised trouble. There was something both tense and watchful about Lord Henry's elegantly clad form, some element held under the barest control. And Verey understood his desperation, but he thought Henry had miscalculated.

”They'll never let you near her,” he prophesied grimly.

”Good G.o.d, the whole Town thinks that you have tried to debauch Miss Jacques, then proposed marriage to Lady Polly for her fortune only a day later!

You'll be ripped to pieces. Henry!”

Lord Henry shrugged.

”Lady Polly would never believe such a thing of me, Simon. I know she would have accepted my suit had the Earl not refused to countenance it!”

Verey shook his head. What madness could have possessed Lord Henry to ask the starchy old Earl of Sea grave for his daughter's hand in marriage whilst such un savoury, albeit untrue, rum ours were being circulated? He must have known that the Earl was so high in the instep that he would never sanction a match between his only daughter and a man who had been branded a philanderer and deceiver.

With its usual appet.i.te for scandal. Society had been quick to seize upon the accusations of Miss Sally Jacques that Henry March night had promised her marriage and then attempted to seduce her. Verey knew that Miss Jacques was the daughter of a Cit who had attempted to establish herself amongst the ton and whose disappointment at being unable to bring Henry up to scratch had led to this ill-considered revenge.

Verey also knew that most of Society thought Miss Jacques an ill-bred mushroom and that interest in the story would wane very swiftly. If only Henry had exercised his usual cool detachment! But in his very real pa.s.sion for Lady Polly Sea grave he seemed uncharacteristically hasty, unable to wait even a few days for matters to cool. Simon was prepared to support his friend, but he was certain that the evening would be deeply unenjoyable.

Their reception at Lady Paulersbury's was everything Verey had predicted and worse. Silence fell as Lord Henry March night was announced. Men whom he had counted his friends pointedly turned their backs. Some women whispered maliciously behind their fans, whilst others drew aside from him with disgusted expressions. There was a moment when Lord Henry was certain Lord Paulersbury was about to have him horsewhipped from the house before his wife's more temperate counsel prevailed. But he was treated as a social pariah, ignored or ridiculed, and it was a profoundly unpleasant and uncomfortable experience.

Lady Polly Sea grave saw Lord Henry's tall figure across the ballroom and was immediately certain that he had come to seek her out. She caught her breath.

To have dared so much public opprobrium, just for the chance of speech with her! He must know that her father had forbidden them to meet and the entire Town was reviling him over the scandal of Miss Jacques.