Lady Polly Part 13

"I have only enough of my allowance left for one purchase," she said regretfully.

"Oh, look at those beautiful silk gloves! Now I am in a quandary!"

Lucille laughed.

"Do you need any of these things?"

"Oh, no! At least--' Polly wrinkled up her nose.

"Not need, precisely, but it would be pleasant to have them! Am I monstrously extravagant?"

Lucille, who privately thought that her sister-in-law was surprisingly un spoilt for all her privileged upbringing, rea.s.sured her that this was not the case at all.

Once the reticule had been settled upon and bought, and they were walking on, Lucille said suddenly, "I was attending to you really! What is it that she will warn you about, Polly?"

Polly looked puzzled, then her face cleared.

"Oh, about Lord Henry March night! In fact, I am surprised that Mama has not spoken before now!

It is unlike her to allow me so much licence! " In the previous two weeks. Lord Henry had been much in evidence in Brook Street, calling on Polly, taking her riding or driving, accompanying her to routs, parties and picnics. Polly had tried to take his attentions lightly but it was becoming increasingly difficult not to think that he might have serious intentions and, oddly, Lucille's next words echoed this.

"I believe that your mama is in a dilemma, Polly," she said thoughtfully.

"She feels that she should warn you against Lord Henry's advances, but she cannot quite disabuse herself of the hope that he is in earnest!

Not even your mama is prepared to offend the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of March night by suggesting that one of their sons is not a suitable match for her daughter!"

Polly bit her lip.

"Do you truly think... I try not to let myself hope too much, but--'

She broke off.

"I dare say I should not set too much store by his behaviour. After all, he is a shocking flirt!"

"He has not flirted with anyone else since he started to pay serious court to you," Lucille pointed out quietly.

The colour flooded Polly's face, then receded to leave her very pale.

"No, that's true! I had not thought... But perhaps he is only flirting with meY " You may judge for yourself whether Lord Henry is sincere,"

Lucille said with a little smile, 'for I see him coming this way!"

It was true. Lord Henry March night, in company with the Vereys and a young lady of schoolroom appearance, was sauntering along the pavement towards them. Polly saw him quicken his step as he caught sight of them and the two parties met and greeted each other with unaffected pleasure.

"Lady Sea grave! Lady Polly!" Lord Henry was smiling at Polly in a way that made her feel suddenly rather hot.

"What good fortune!" He turned to the very young lady by his side.

"May I make you known to my sister Laura?"

Laura March night, simply but expensively clad in the demure apparel of the debutante, dropped a shy curtsy. She was a sweet-looking girl with the same corn-coloured hair and grey eyes as her brother. Polly remembered hearing that Lady Laura was delicate and had recently returned from a trip to Bath Spa with her mother, where the medicinal waters had apparently done wonders for her health.

"We were just planning an outing to Richmond," Henry was saying, his gaze still fixed rather disconcertingly on Polly.

"Tomorrow, if the weather stays fair. We would be delighted if you were able to join us--' he turned courteously to Lucille '--and Lord Sea grave as well, of course, if he is free."

Lucille, who had been exchanging a few words with Therese and Simon Verey, looked rueful.

"We are promised for a visit tomorrow and cannot cry off," she said apologetically, 'but I am persuaded that Polly would be able to make up one of your party. What do you think, Polly? Are you already engaged for tomorrow? " Polly shook herself out of the slight confusion which Lord Henry's presence always seemed to stir up in her.

"Oh, no... yes... indeed! I have no other plans! I should be delighted!"

Therese Verey smiled.

"I am sure your mama will let me stand as chaperon!

Laura is to accompany us, and Simon's sister Jane Delahaye, and one or two others. It will be great fun! " "We thought to ride," Lord Henry murmured.

"I understand that you are a keen horsewoman. Lady Polly. Would such a plan meet with your approval?"

Polly turned her glowing face to his.

"Oh, indeed, that would be most enjoyable! I have missed riding out since I have been up in Town!"

They parted in mutual accord, having agreed that Lord Henry would call for Polly in his phaeton and drive her to Richmond. The Vereys undertook to provide the horses from Simon's extensive stables and Polly started to look forward to the excursion very much. She hurried home to review her wardrobe, certain that she had absolutely nothing to wear that was worthy of a trip to Richmond with Lord Henry March night.

After she had considered every dress she owned, draping them over the bed and holding them up in the nun-or, a grumbling Jessie pointed out that she would be wearing a riding habit anyway.

That meant a choice of green, red or navy blue and Polly chose the blue, then spent almost the entire evening at the musicale they were all attending, wondering whether she had made the correct choice. She was then struck by the awful thought that it might rain on the morrow even though it had not done so for several weeks. All in all, it was a wonder she had any sleep that night.

Fortunately, it proved to be the most perfect day for a ride. Polly had greatly enjoyed the drive to Richmond and the party had met up at the Roe hampton Gate, taken a ride to Pen Ponds and were now turning back for a cold collation at the Star and Garter Inn.

"I had no idea that you were such an accomplished rider, ma'am," Henry March night said to Polly as, out of breath and laughing with exhilaration, she slowed to a canter as the Gate came in sight once more.

"I had heard that you were keen, but the two are not always synonymous!

I should have suggested such an outing much sooner!"

His frank gaze admired the colour in her cheeks and the brightness of her eyes.

"It is pleasant to escape the confines of the Town, is it not?"

Something in his tone reminded Polly of the night at Hamp stead Wells, when Henry had told her that she was a rebel by nature. Certainly her unrestrained enjoyment of a gallop through the park seemed to prove his point. They had not approached the intimacy of that night at Hamp stead again; indeed. Henry seemed very careful to avoid any behaviour that could be construed as questionable. He made sure that they were never alone together and he treated Polly with utmost propriety. She found his behaviour puzzling, to say the least. She sensed that it did not come naturally to him to keep himself on so tight a rein, and yet she was half-grateful that he did not attempt to shorten the distance between them. She was confused by her feelings for him. On the one hand she wanted more, far more, from him, but she was still held back by the constraints of her upbringing.

Now, to give herself time, she turned away and studied the sweep of the land towards the river, the charming little woods scattered about them and the herds of deer grazing peacefully in the distance.

"Have you seen John Boy dell's aqua tints of the river?" Lord Henry said casually, slowing his horse to a walk to allow the rest of the group to catch them up.

"They are held to be very pretty, I believe."

"Yes," Polly smiled.

"They are quite charming. And it is such fun to be able to match his pictures to all the places along the river, but I do believe that he gives a more rural feel to the prints than is truly accurate!"