Part 33 (1/2)

Lady Belling ham smiled understandingly.

”Never mind, my love! I am sure Lord Henry finds your dishevelment attractive rather than otherwise! That was always my experience of gentlemen! And I can see that he admires you exceedingly!”

Polly blushed bright red.

”Oh, Lady Belling ham, I think you must be mistaken. Lord Henry and I--' She broke off, quite unable to continue in the face of Lady Belling ham's amused cynicism.

”Fustian, my dear! Stuff and nonsense!” Lady Bel- ling ham was busy pulling some enormous gowns out of the closet. Her voice was m.u.f.fled.

”You may pretend to be indifferent to each other, but you cannot cozen me!

I have known Henry March night for years and he has never truly cared for any young lady. But you ! Well!” She emerged with a huge lilac coloured dress over her arm. Polly held it up in front of her. It was going to look like a tent. If Lord Henry found her attractive in that then the only explanation could be that his wits must have gone a-begging.

Chapter Eleven.

QrysQ JVliss Dit ton certainly found the outfit rather diverting when she and the rest of Polly's lost party were shepherded into the drawing-room an hour later.

”La, Lady Polly, you are all the crack! You must tell me where you buy your modes!”

”Miss Dit ton, I presume!” Lady Belling ham glided forward smoothly to greet her unwanted guests. Her smile was all that was gracious, but there was a look in those world-weary dark eyes that suggested that she had met Miss Dit ton's type many times before and knew precisely how to deal with them.

She welcomed Miss Dit ton and her brother coolly, Hetty with more warmth and Peter with almost as much enthusiasm as she had shown Henry, who was now lounging before the fireplace watching with amus.e.m.e.nt. He looked considerably more elegant in his borrowed plumes than Polly did in hers.

Polly wondered where Lady Belling ham had got such stylish gentlemen's clothes from. She could hardly imagine the lugubrious Gaston cutting a dash in the slim black pantaloons, black jacket and snowy white s.h.i.+rt.

Gaston had found Polly's companions huddling in one of the cottages in s.h.i.+ngle Street. When the rain had started they had hurried to the carriages, intent on setting off back immediately until Peter had remembered Polly and had set out to look for her. This had delayed them sufficently for the road to become waterlogged, since it was scarcely more than a sandy track, and they had no choice but to inflict their presence on one of the glum village families until the rain stopped.

This was not quite how Miss Dit ton saw their predicament and she was loud in her condemnation of the noisome cottage and its smelly occupants.

'and do you know, my dear Lady Polly, they actually had the animals in there with them! ” She shuddered.

”Apparently it helps them to keep warm!”

Polly caught Henry's eye just as he tried to repress a smile.

”Doubtless your presence incommoded the poor pigs considerably,” Lady Belling ham said, with a suspiciously straight face.

”They are not animals that take kindly to a disruption of their routine!”

The precise nature of Miss Dit ton's difficulties now became clear. She could not snub Lady Belling ham, for she had no doubt that her ladys.h.i.+p was perfectly capable of turning her out into the rain if she chose.

On the other hand, the Dit tons had never acknowledged the former actress, even after the Sea graves had taken her up. Mr Dit ton cleared his throat noisily, settling himself on the sofa.

”Extraordinary customs these inbred country folk have! Why, I remember--' He broke off with a loud yelp.

”Good G.o.d, ma'am, that creature has bitten me!”

Lady Belling ham smiled fondly at Horace the cat, who was moving more swiftly than anyone had ever seen in his attempt to get away from under Mr Dit ton.

”Dear Horace,” Lady Belling ham said sweetly. ”Such a good judge of character! You are sitting in his place, I fear, Mr Dit ton. He will not be quick to forgive!”

Fortunately a loud thunderclap interrupted this exchange and the ladies all exclaimed in dismay. The rain was still tumbling from a leaden sky.