Part 95 (1/2)
”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.
Sir G.o.dfrey.”
Dit ton's lips curved in a sneer. Even he was not so thick-skinned to miss the lack of warmth in the atmosphere. He turned to Polly, his hand at her waist, pus.h.i.+ng her forwards into the centre of the room.
”Come, my love,” he murmured, 'it is time to tell everyone of our tender romance! Speak up, lest your brother think you half-hearted!
You know you must convince him! ” Polly could hear the threat implicit in his tone. His hand was hot and damp through the thin silk of her summer dress. Her skin crawled. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, that might help win the day, though she knew in her heart that the cause was hopeless. Then she met Lucille's eyes.
The Countess of Sea grave had one hand resting lightly on her stomach where the faintest curve of her pregnancy was beginning to show. The other hand was on her husband's arm, in a gesture at once tender, supportive and united.
And the look in her vivid blue eyes as she gazed at Polly was one of direct challenge. A sob tore itself from Polly's throat. Lucille had everything that Polly wanted, everything that she had thought at last she might achieve with Lord Henry March night, and here she was, smas.h.i.+ng it to pieces before it had begun.
She looked at Hetty Mark ham and found herself trembling on the very edge of exposure. Hetty's disgrace would be her freedom, but then there was Peter.
Peter, who had never been particularly sensitive but was looking at her with a mixture of puzzlement and concern, Peter who would be so hurt.
”You must excuse me... the heat... I feel so unwell...”
But before she could escape the pitiless stare of all those eyes.
Henry's chair went clattering back. Polly saw the outrage and disgust on his face, the blazing fury as he turned his back on her and stalked out of the room, and then she fainted.
Somewhere beyond the locked door, Polly could hear the Dowager Countess's voice rising and falling like a peal of bells.
”It's madness, I tell you, complete madness! To throw herself away on that loathsome creature well, really, G.o.dfrey! Someone must speak to her! No, not you, G.o.dfrey, you would only make matters worse! Oh, Lord, what are we to do?”
There was a rumble from Sir G.o.dfrey, the words indistinguishable, then Polly heard Lady Belling- ham's soothing tones.
”Dear ma'am, I do not believe for one moment that Lady Polly wishes to marry Mr Dit ton. Surely what is of concern is the reason she feels she must!”
Polly held her breath. She had great respect for Lady Belling ham's perspicacity.
”She has told us that it is that ridiculous business the other night!”
the Dowager Countess was saying tearfully.
”We have told her and told her that it is of no consequence, but she insists that her reputation is damaged!
I never heard such a nonsense! The girl has taken leave of her senses!
And to pretend that she holds him in esteem! It's utterly absurd! ”
Polly heard the sound of a door closing across the corridor, then Lucille's tones, soft and questioning.
”Lucille!” the Dowager Countess expostulated. ”You must speak to Polly! At once!”
Polly tensed, awaiting the knock at the door. She could hear Lucille's tones, a brief murmur in stark contrast to the Dowager's histrionics, and then there was silence. Polly waited, but no knock came. She felt so relieved that she almost cried all over again, for now she would at least be spared the necessity of lying to Lucille, something she simply could not bear to do.