Part 97 (1/2)

”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?”

”Yes, but I did not have the chance to explain--' Polly broke off.

”How on earth did you know that, Lady B.?”

”Oh, my dear...” Lady Belling ham gestured widely 'how could you possibly have agreed to marry that horrid little man otherwise? For a while I could not imagine what hold he had over you, then I realised that it could be nothing to do with you personally--' ”You cannot know--' ” No,” Lady Belling ham said serenely, ”I do not know the precise truth. All I know is that you are protecting someone else for the best of motives.”

She took Polly's hands.

”But I do urge you, my dear, to reconsider. You may find that what you have been told is very far from the truth...”

Polly stared.

”I wish I could believe you, ma'am,” she said sadly, 'but all the details fit the case. You do not think that I would have agreed to the betrothal otherwise? Oh, I do not know what to do--' The door opened and a young lady peered in a little dubiously. Lady Belling ham took Polly's arm and steered her out into the corridor.

”Come, we must see if we can find Lord Henry for you. I cannot deny that I am consumed with curiosity to know the truth, but Lord Henry should be the first to hear! You must tell him, and at once. If necessary, I shall occupy that repellent Mr Dit ton by telling him exactly what I think of him.

That should distract his attention! In fact, I think I shall do that anyway!”

Lady Belling ham's plan was destined to be dashed, however. Neither Lord Henry March night nor Tristan Dit ton could be found when they re-entered the ballroom.

Looking about, Polly thought that the company seemed to be thinning rapidly.

The officers of the 21st Light Dragoons seemed to be vanis.h.i.+ng from before her eyes.

”Oh, this a.s.sembly is so tediously dull!” Miss Dit- ton yawned.

”Mama, let us retire! Where can Tristan have got to?” She looked about her, vexed.

”I.

hope he will not mind if we take the carriage! It is so thoughtless of him to disappear just as we require his escort! ” As far as Polly was concerned, Dit ton could not be far enough away. She endured Miss Dit ton's pretence at an affectionate farewell embrace, winced as she was addressed as ”Sister', and retreated thankfully to Lucille's side. She had already decided that she would seek a private audience with her sister-in-law as soon as they reached Dilling ham Court. She could carry the secret of Hetty's disgrace no longer.

The journey home was almost as dreadful as the one to the a.s.sembly.

Lucille, Polly and Nicholas sat in silence whilst Polly ached to burst out with the truth. Other melancholy thoughts also occupied her mind.

A few moments more and she would have told Henry everything, but now he would think that she did not trust him enough to confide. And it had been true. doubt had kept her silent until it was too late.

Polly took no notice as the carriage lurched along the dark lanes from Wood bridge to Dilling ham. It was only when they came to an abrupt halt in the middle of nowhere that she looked up in surprise. Nicholas opened the window and stuck his head out. A cold mist was blowing in from the sea, wreathing around the trees, creeping into the carriage.

Polly s.h.i.+vered.

She was uncertain of their precise location as she had not been paying attention, but the night was cold and as desolate as only the empty Suffolk nights could be.

”John? What the devil's going on?” Nicholas demanded.