Part 83 (1/2)

”Good afternoon. Lady Polly,” Lord Henry March- night said politely.

Shock at his sudden appearance and the recollection that she had failed in her duty to keep an eye on his sister held Polly silent for a moment.

Henry was smiling very slightly.

”Have you lost your party again, perhaps?”

”No, of course not,” Polly snapped, brus.h.i.+ng the gra.s.s from her skirt and feeling foolish at having been caught in such a situation.

”I saw the Dit tons but a moment ago and I have been waiting for Lady Laura, who--' ” Who has tricked you into thinking she was having her fortune told whilst in fact she is making secret a.s.signations,” Lord Henry finished a little grimly.

”I take it that that is why I find you outside Madame Rose's tent, Lady Polly? You were not thinking of parting with your money in return for the a.s.surance that a tall, fair gentleman would presently sweep you off your feet?”

”Oh!” A variety of emotions, mostly uncomfortable, warred for ascendancy within Polly. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of a reply.

She accepted Lord Henry's arm and they started to walk slowly between the booths.

”It is too bad of Laura to take advantage of your good nature,” he said, after a moment, seeing that Polly's innate good manners made it impossible for her to criticise his sister.

”In mitigation I can only say that she is very young and very much in love, and has not yet realised that true friends.h.i.+p should not be abused.”

”If only she had confided in me--' Polly broke off, not wis.h.i.+ng to suggest that she would have helped Lady Laura deceive her family. Lord Henry's sudden appearance in search of Laura and his grimness in the face of his sister's behaviour suggested that she certainly did not have his support.

”Is it certain?” she asked carefully.

”Do you know that she has arranged to meet Mr Fan-ant? I did think that I had seen them a moment ago.”

”Indeed you did.” Henry sounded rather grim.

”I saw them myself, walking past the gunsmith's stall. In fairness to Laura, I do not think that they mean to do more than meet and enjoy each other's company, but she should know better... Of course, she had no notion that I should be here today and see through her deception.”

This brought Polly's mind back to other matters, equally disagreeable.

”I.

understood you to be at Weller den,” she said, a little crossly.

”You are forever coming and going, are you not, sir?”

Henry laughed softly as he noted the martial light in her eyes.

”Ah, the gossips have been busy again! Indeed, I spent a few days there--' ” In most entertaining company, I understand,” Polly said, despite herself.

”Oh, the best! Can you doubt it?”

Polly almost stamped her foot, but knew he was only trying to provoke her.

”Well, I dare say our tastes differ there, my lord.”

”I should hope so!” Henry laughed again as he saw her look of fury.