Lady Polly Part 24

She had accepted Lucille's dictum that the feelings aroused in her by Lord Henry were perfectly natural, but she was not at all sure that she wished to experience them again. Lord Henry was a rake who understood such matters; Polly was aware of her own inexperience and timidity and she had no intention of letting Lord Henry, whose intentions could only be dishonourable, complete her education. But avoiding him would be difficult in the small social circle of Wood bridge, and remaining impervious to his charm was even more of a problem.

To distract herself, she turned her brightest smile upon him.

"And what do you find to amuse you in Wood bridge, sir? It must be intolerably dull for one accustomed to more sophisticated amus.e.m.e.nts!"

Lord Henry raised his eyebrows.

"And what other pursuits do you imagine me preferring. Lady Polly?"

Polly blushed.

"Now, sir, I warned you--' " I a.s.sure you it was a genuine question,"

Lord Henry said idly.

"People have the most extraordinary preconceptions about my behaviour, you see!"

"No doubt completely without foundation," Polly said with asperity, meeting his bright, guileless gaze. She smiled.

"Tell, me then, sir, to avoid misunderstandings, what it is you find of interest in this part of the country."

"Well..." Lord Henry looked thoughtful 'for a start, my father has commissioned me to oversee the making of his new yacht down at the boatyard, so that keeps me busy for part of the time. Charles Far rant, over at Leet wood, is a good friend of mine, so I have spent some time there. Then there is the society to he had here and the entertainments in the Town. But above all, Suffolk is so pretty a county I feel I could walk and ride and swim--' he cast Polly a wicked sideways look '--for as much time as I have available to me. So you see, I do not lack amus.e.m.e.nt. " Polly had been feeling quite in charity with him, until the mention of the swimming, for she found Suffolk the prettiest and most tranquil place on earth.

Now, however, the vision of Lord Henry emerging from the pool was before her eyes again and she knew she had turned bright red. Worse, she knew that he knew what she was thinking of, for he said, very softly, "It was a most stimulating encounter. Lady Polly."

"I would call it shocking, sir."

"No, not at all... enjoyable, provocative..." She knew he was teasing her, pushing her to see how much licence she would allow him. And indeed, it was most difficult, Polly thought, for he made her feel so much less prudishly conventional than normal. There was a quickening in her blood in response to this banter and he could read the signs, knew she was responding to him even against her better judgement.

"Enough, Lord Henry!" But Polly could not prevent herself smiling and she saw him incline his head, though his eyes were still bright with challenge, as if to say: "I will accept your decision this time but I know that you are weakening..."

"You will be wishing me away, then, ma'am," he said politely.

"You must consult your own inclination, sir." A faint smile touched Lord Henry's eyes.

"Oh, as for myself, ma'am, I could sit here all day! But I promised my sister I would ask you a favour." He nodded in the direction of Lady Laura, who was sitting under the watchful eye of the d.u.c.h.ess.

"Laura feels a little isolated out at Fen church alone and I know she longs for a change of company! You have been good enough to show her some kindness in the past. May I beg the pleasure of bringing her to you now?"

Lady Laura had caught his eye and was looking hopeful. Polly smiled.

"By all means. Lord Henry. I should be delighted."

The arrangement was soon effected. Lady Laura took the seat beside Polly and they chatted pleasantly for ten minutes, with Lord Henry adding the odd, laconic comment every so often. Laura expressed herself very taken with Suffolk, although a little lonely in the house out towards the sea on the Or ford road. She explained that the d.u.c.h.ess had taken it with the thought that the bracing sea air would do Laura good, although she had not felt herself pulled down by her weeks in London. Polly's poor opinion of the d.u.c.h.ess's domineering ways grew. It seemed that she wanted to keep her daughter in what almost amounted to seclusion. Laura admitted to liking the house and its situation near the beach, but regretted the lack of companionship close by. She was about to venture some further comment when Charles Far rant, who had been conversing with Miss Dit ton, drew up a chair and asked if he might join them. Laura blushed and fell unaccountably silent.

Polly observed this development with amus.e.m.e.nt and not a little surprise.

Mr Far rant was hardly so romantic a figure that a young girl would develop a tend re for him. He was in his late thirties, pleasant and slightly earnest, and he had a look of complete dog like devotion in his kindly eyes as they rested on Laura. She in turn, seemed unable to look directly at him, but with shy smiles and sideways looks indicated that she was not indifferent to his presence. Polly, catching Lord Henry's speculative gaze as he a.s.similated this unlikely attraction, shared a look of conspiratorial indulgence with him. A moment later, he suggested that they go and admire Mrs Fitzgerald's gardens together, leaving the smitten couple to progress their surprising romance.

"Who would have thought it?" Lord Henry said pensively, helping Polly descend the wide, shallow stone steps which led from the drawing-room to the chamomile lawn.

"I have the greatest regard for Far rant, but I never imagined he would set the world on fire! Yet Laura seems to find him agreeable enough, and has done so from the moment they first clapped eyes on each other at Fen church!"

He slanted a look down at Polly's serene face.

"I am further in his debt, for I imagine you would not have consented to step outside with me were you not tempted to play matchmaker!

Shall we take a seat beneath that oak tree? You should not walk far until your ankle is fully mended. " They were still in full view of the house and it seemed perfectly proper.

The tree cast a cool shade and Polly sank on to the seat with some grat.i.tude.

"Thank goodness! It really is too hot in the full sun!"

"Are we really mere acquaintances, to be discussing the weather?" Lord Henry asked lazily.

"I can think of far more interesting topics!"

It occurred to Polly that the proximity of the house and the fact that anyone could see them from the window would not deter Lord Henry from his customary outrageous behaviour. His hand was lying along the back of the wooden seat behind her and she was almost certain that he was touching her hair. A moment later he had entwined one of her ringlets about his fingers, just brushing the sensitive skin of her neck as he did so. Polly moved her head sharply away.

"Will your parents look with kindness on an attachment between Lady Laura and Mr Far rant?" Polly asked, both to distract Lord Henry and also because she had a genuine interest in Laura's future.

Henry sighed.

"I doubt it. They intend her for John Bel lars--' He stopped as he saw Polly's face.

"I know Bel lars made you an offer and you refused him, and no doubt you share my opinion of him! But rank and consequence will always be in demand..." He shrugged, as though the thought made him a little uncomfortable.

"Is Lady Laura receptive to his suit?" Polly asked hesitantly. She did not wish to be thought prying, but she could not believe that a girl who was showing all the symptoms of love, as Laura was, could be easily persuaded to look at another man.

"She was indifferent to all the plans made for her," Henry said bluntly, 'until she met Far rant. I observed her partiality from the start and wondered at it! But it will make matters devilishly difficult. Well--' he shrugged again '--we will see. " He smiled at Polly. " A little while ago we were discussing my interests here in Suffolk. What do you find to do with your time in this delightful backwater? " Polly accepted that he wished to change the subject.

"Oh, I go riding when it is not too hot, and I walk and read and paint.

I have a fondness for watercolours although I would say my talent is small.

And as you have seen, there is much company to he had."

"Yes, though not all of it congenial," Lord Henry observed.

"I find myself becoming ever less tolerant of poor company these days.

I rate intelligent conversation and good company above all other claims of rank and importance!"

"Outrageous!" Polly said, trying not to laugh.

"You were not always so selective, sir!"

Henry raised an eyebrow.

"Can you be taking me to task, Lady Polly?"