Lady Polly Part 77

"Now, Richmond..." Lucille tried to look severe.

"I a.s.sume that you have not discussed it with Lord Henry?"

Polly sobered slightly.

"No, and I cannot see that we shall ever do so. I am still resigned to the fact that there is no future for me with Lord Henry, for he is clearly unable to abandon his rakish habits." A shade of colour crept into her face.

"Indeed, it is one of the reasons why I feel particularly badly about my behaviour." She struggled a little for the words.

"It is not as if... that is... were we betrothed..."

But Lucille was smiling again.

"It does not do to worry too much about such things, Polly! I have the strangest feeling that all will turn out for the best. Lord Henry, I am persuaded, thinks no less of you for your conduct." Her eyes twinkled.

"Your folly in becoming foxed, however, is a different matter!"

Polly found herself laughing again in spite of herself.

"Yes, it was unforgivable in me and really very unpleasant to boot! I am sure Lord Henry thinks me a complete fool, which is dreadful! And now this business at the fishing-house... Oh, Lord, I really have made a complete cake of myself!"

And she collapsed into fresh giggles.

Lucille was also laughing.

"And you think this a calamity? It's the funniest thing I have heard this age!"

"Yes!" Polly raised eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears of laughter.

"I see now that it is! Oh, thank you, Lucille! I feel so much better!"

"Our encounters seem to be becoming ever more dramatic. Lady Polly,"

Lord Henry March night murmured, taking the seat next to hers in Mrs Fitzgerald's drawing-room a week later.

"Is it possible for us to converse in a seemly fashion, do you think, or will something untoward occur simply through our proximity?" There was a blend of mockery and amus.e.m.e.nt in the low tones which Polly found infinitely disturbing, but she was not going to allow him to put her out of countenance.

He had not called to see her during her convalescence and that alone was enough to make her treat him coolly. Although she would never have admitted it, Polly had waited in vain through the hot summer days, hoping that each peal of the doorbell might be Lord Henry, or that each floral tribute might be his.

She should have known better--it was all of a piece with his behaviour in London--but it made it no easier to bear.

She gave him a cool smile.

"Provided that you are able to behave yourself we may do tolerably well, sir," she said lightly.

"And now that I am so much better, I shall at least be able to make my escape! But--' her smile gained a shade of warmth '--I have not yet had the opportunity to thank you for the service rendered to us in London that night--' Lord Henry touched her hand so briefly, so quickly that no one noticed; Polly thought she might have imagined it were it not for the sensation of warmth his touch aroused. She looked away, confused.

"Do not speak of it. I am just glad that no real harm came of the occasion."

Polly reflected that Lord Henry's attractions lay not only in his undeniable physical attributes but also in his charm of manner. She had hardened her heart against him and yet she could feel herself weakening already. He spoke as though she were the only person of importance in the room and the intent look in those cool grey eyes was for her alone. And yet it had to be an illusion, for Polly had seen him charming a dozen other women with that mixture of concentrated attention and lazy grace.

In the days of Henry's absence, Polly had taught herself to be sensible.

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.