Part 41 (1/2)
Madness! She could not throw away her own future because of Hetty's behaviour. Then, through the open door she saw them, Peter smiling down into Hetty's face with such love, his hand covering hers as it lay on his arm.
Polly remembered his unhappiness over the broken betrothal, how he had made a fool of himself with Lady Bolt, how he had got drunk through his misery on hearing the false news of Hetty's betrothal to Grantley.
”I am at the point where I need a rich wife,” Dit ton was saying conversationally, only heightening the horror of it all, 'and you are both rich and well connected. I could never aspire to marry an Earl's daughter under other circ.u.mstances. Come, my dear, we could make a good match of it!
What do you say? ” There were a hundred people at the ball, Polly thought with dread. If Dit ton were to announce Hetty's downfall before them all, the effect would be too devastating to contemplate. If she could only buy some time, prevent the disclosure. She need never go through with it and she would be able to talk to someone, sort it all out, explain. Polly's mind was a whirl of thoughts and images.
Henry's face was before her, the scene between them in the conservatory suddenly so distant it seemed almost imagined. Or was this the unreality? Dit ton was like a coiled spring, unpredictable, unstable.
”Very well,” she said weakly, and heard his breath hiss with satisfaction, 'but the betrothal must be kept a secret until I have had chance to tell my family--' It had been a gamble and it showed at once how far she had underestimated him.
”A secret!” Dit ton exclaimed gaily.
”No such thing! I want to shout it from the rooftops!” He had grasped her hand and was drawing her with hideous inevitability towards the supper room, where the c.h.i.n.k of china and buzz of voices could be heard. Polly hung back, suddenly terrified.
”Oh, no! You cannot! I did not intend... We must wait--' But her words fell on deaf ears.
”Come, come, my dear, do you think I shall give you the chance to cry off!
Credit me with a little sense, I beg of you! What a sensation this will be-almost, but not quite, as good as telling the guests of Miss Mark ham's debauchery! ” Polly gave a faint moan.
”Oh, never fear,” Dit ton continued in the same light tone, ”I shall keep my part of the bargain for as long as you keep yours! And here we are--ready to break the news!”
A curious silence fell on the room when they entered. The tables, in long rows that stretched towards the picture windows at the end, were laden with a harvest supper and almost full. At the top table, the whole Sea grave family were chatting animatedly to the friends and neighbours around them. Worse, to their left, the d.u.c.h.ess of March night, Lady Laura and Lord Henry were enjoying the repast. Henry's head had been inclined towards his mother as she expressed some view on the sweetness of the strawberries. He looked up as Polly came closer and the glad light sprang to his eyes, to be banished only slowly as he saw Tristan Dit ton pulling her forward by the hand.
Dit ton reached the top table and stopped. He addressed the Earl of Sea grave.
”Lady Polly has done me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage,”
Tristan Dit ton said with oily complacency.
”She has made me the happiest of men!”
There was absolute silence. The Dowager Countess put down her winegla.s.s with a clatter that sent her dessert spoon spinning away.
”Polly? Engaged to Mr Dit ton? What nonsense is this?”
Polly felt Tristan Dit ton stiffen beside her. Afraid of his instability, convinced that he would suddenly blurt out what he had just told her, she hastened into speech.
”It is not nonsense. Mama! I a.s.sure you, I have consented to marry Mr Dit ton. After all, we have known each other all our lives, and I esteem him greatly--' She broke off as she saw the look of contemptuous amus.e.m.e.nt cross her elder brother's face. Polly knew that she had started to rattle on out of nervousness, here in front of all these people. And, as yet, Nicholas had said nothing at all. Beside him, Lucille's face was a blank mask.
Fortunately, Tristan Dit ton had been the only one convinced by her words.
He beamed at the a.s.sembled group.
”Come, congratulate me on my conquest!”
Nicholas Sea grave stood up. The look of scorn in his dark eyes was so swift it was barely noticeable, but Polly saw and understood. He would not make a scene in front of his guests, but the reckoning would come later.
”Thank you for your announcement, Dit ton,” Sea- grave said pleasantly.
”I.
shall look forward to having the opportunity to discuss the matter with my sister and. ” his hesitation was barely perceptible 'her trustee.