Part 43 (1/2)

”That would be a nonsense. So, Polly, what is it all about?

Blackmail?”

His tone compelled her to look up and meet his eyes. She saw stark determination there, anger, puzzlement and an intentness to find out the truth. Her resolve weakened. But it would not be like confiding in Lucille--Henry would feel obliged to take some action, and to pour out Hetty's disgrace to him would be so unfair to her future sister-in-law.

She could not break her silence and expose Hetty's guilt.

”It is not my secret to tell,” she said piteously.

”But Harry, it is not my actions that have given Mr Dit ton the means to exert his will...”

Henry frowned.

”Then--' ” It is Hetty! ” Polly said, and burst into tears.

”Miss Mark ham?” Henry seemed astounded.

”Polly, you must tell me. Trust me--' Polly gazed at him hopelessly.

Surely he could see how desperate she was to tell him, that she trusted him more than anyone in the world, and yet... Henry had forgiven her so much--the youthful immaturity that had stunted her first love for him, her foolish suspicions about his activities. But now he would believe that she did not trust him enough to confide in him, not understanding that a loyalty to her family kept her silent. Polly saw the look of withdrawal she dreaded come into Henry's eyes, and in that second, she realised that the most important thing was not to preserve Hetty's secret, but to entrust Henry with it. She started to speak, but another voice interrupted her before she had said more than two words.

”By all accounts, fis.h.i.+ng in other men's pools is your favoured occupation, March night!” Tristan Dit- ton sneered from the doorway.

”An affecting tableau, but not one to which you have any right! Do not approach my promised wife again!”

All expression had been wiped clean from Henry's face. He turned to face the other man. For a moment it seemed that Dit ton flinched back, although Henry had made no move towards him.

”Take care that you do not make her a widow, Dit ton,” he said softly, but with an edge to his words that made Polly s.h.i.+ver suddenly.

”It will be my most earnest endeavour to see her so.”

”Mr Dit ton!” Barely had Henry brushed past Tristan Dit ton without another word before Lady Belling ham was standing behind him in the pa.s.sage and addressing him in tones of deepest displeasure.

”You do realise that this is the ladies' withdrawing-room, sir? I a.s.sure you, you are the last person a lady would wish to meet when she takes refuge in here! Kindly retire!”

Mr Dit ton flushed bright red and sidled off down the corridor.

”Routed!” her ladys.h.i.+p said with immense satisfaction. She closed the door behind her and turned her critical dark gaze on Polly.

”My dear, how very woebegone you look! Did you have the chance to speak to Lord Henry? I sent him along to you as soon as I was able, but I was afraid that that unpleasant Dit ton fellow would get in the way! What a vulgar piece of work that man is!”

Polly was not sure whether to laugh or cry. There was something so bracing about Lady Belling ham's practical common sense that it made matters seem much less black.

”I was about to confide in Lord Henry when Mr Dit ton came in,” she admitted.

”It took me a little time to pluck up the courage and by then Mr Dit ton had already found us. Oh, dear! Lord Henry will think that I do not trust him--' ” Indeed, my dear, and it is of the utmost importance that he is made to understand! ” Lady Belling ham said energetically.

”Lord Henry loves you so very much that I imagine you have occasioned him a great deal of pain through this false engagement! If you do not act quickly he may not forgive you!”

”I did try,” Polly said dispiritedly, 'but I did not have enough time--' ”And no doubt he wasted some of it in berating you!” Lady Belling ham shook her head sadly.

”Gentlemen are so predictable, but I have high hopes of Lord Henry's intelligence and perception. Surely he can see that you are being blackmailed?”