Nicholas's eyes met Lucille's and they exchanged a smile of complicity.

"Do something, Nicholas!" the Dowager besought again.

Nicholas crossed to his wife's side and took her hand.

"But Mama, there is nothing more I can do! I had already met them at the gates and offered them the use of my travelling carriage! Harry a.s.sured me that they should make Ruth ford late tonight and are to be married in the morning!"

The Dowager Countess gave a m.u.f.fled squeak. "Tonight! But Polly is unchaperoned! Even if they are to be married tomorrow, what is to happen tonight?"

There was a brief silence. Peter and Hetty studiously avoided each other's gaze. Nicholas Sea grave raised his eyebrows.

"What do you think?" he said.

It was early evening when they reached Ruth ford. Polly had fallen asleep on the journey, her head resting on Henry's shoulder, and awoke just as the carriage pulled up in front of the house. She had a confused impression of mellow stone and part-timbering before Henry ushered her up the steps and into the hall, handing her over to his housekeeper, Mrs Owen, to show her to her room. They ate alone in a small but tastefully appointed dining-room and, after the meal, took a turn along the terrace as dusk was falling. Away to the west the clouds were building and Polly shivered at the sound of distant thunder.

"I have spoken to Father Beck ham and he is very happy to marry us in the morning," Henry said conversationally.

"You are very quiet, Polly. I hope..." he took Polly's cold hand in his warm one 'that it is not a sign that you have changed your mind! "

The warmth of his touch helped to rea.s.sure Polly. "It is just that it seems so strange," she said excusingly, 'and so unexpected, for all that I have been wanting to marry you these five years past! And suddenly we are alone.

" "Yes." Henry tucked her hand comfortingly through his arm.

"It is bound to seem a little strange at first. Perhaps we should retire to the drawing-room and I shall read my paper and you may essay a little needlepoint, and we shall be like any old married couple!"

Polly laughed.

"I had no idea that marriage to you would be such a dull affair, my lord!

Perhaps I should change my mind--' " Too late," Henry said cheerfully.

"You are compromised beyond redemption, I fear, and..." he drew her closer 'should there be any doubt I should be happy to confirm that I had seduced you thoroughly! " "I wonder how Hetty and Peter ever came to--,?" Polly broke off, blushing rosily.

"Well, no doubt I should not speculate..."

"Were you shocked when the truth came out?"

Polly considered.

"Not shocked, precisely, at least not at what they had done. It was... understandable. But I was surprised and perhaps a little--' "

Envious? " Henry's grey eyes held a spark of mischief.

"A pity then, that we are to be so respectably married on the morrow!"

"There is always tonight," Polly said, casting him a look under her lashes.

Their eyes met in a long moment of tension, then Henry shook his head reluctantly.

"For once in my life I am determined to behave in an honourable fashion!"

he said.

It did not seem, however, that Henry's scruples prevented him from kissing Polly goodnight in the most thorough way imaginable. They made slow progress back inside and up the wide wooden staircase, entwined as they were in each other's arms. They stopped again outside Polly's bedroom door.

"What marvellously discreet servants you have, Harry," Polly observed.

"No doubt they are accustomed to melting away as soon as you appear with a lady who is not your wife!"

"Minx!" Henry pulled her into his arms.

"They are all well aware that tomorrow you will become Lady Polly March night!"

He kissed her gently, lovingly. It was not what Polly wanted. She parted her lips beneath his, rejoicing as she felt the kiss turn from sweetness to sensual demand. Henry, that notorious rake, had exercised endless self-control in his dealings with her and she was determined to make him lose his restraint.

"I protest," she said against his lips, 'that your reputation is undeserved.

Harry! You are no rake--' In reply, he turned his mouth back to hers driving out all thought with the explosive demand of his lips and his hands. When he finally let her go, Polly had to lean back against the door frame to steady herself. Henry stood back very deliberately.

"Enough! I must go--' Polly had her hand on the doork.n.o.b and the door was already half-open. As Henry turned away she said, very softly, "Henry, I am afraid of the thunder. Don't leave me..."

She saw him hesitate, and smile, before he took her arm, drew her through the doorway, and closed the door very firmly behind them.

Neither of them heard the thunderstorm that raged about the house, being too concerned with the storm within. At some point during the night, when the thunder had died away. Henry stirred and raised himself on one elbow.

"The storm has gone," he said softly.

"Would you wish me away, madam, now that you need be afraid no longer?"

Polly could hear the smile in his voice. She reached out to pull him to her.

"I have not mentioned it before, my love, but I am afraid of the dark.

I fear you must stay with me until the morning!"

In the light of the new day, Polly woke again and spoke drowsily.

"Henry? Do you still wish to marry me?"

Henry leant across to kiss her.

"More than ever now, my love! Who would have thought that marriage would promise to be so enjoyable!"

Polly glanced across at the clock. Somehow they had never managed to draw the bed curtains.

"At what hour is the wedding?"

"At ten o'clock, the earliest that I thought that we could respectably arrange it..." Henry's kisses were becoming more persuasive, more determined. Polly pushed him away.

"That would be the ten o'clock that was a half hour ago?"

Henry sat bolt upright.