Lady Sea grave looked hard at her daughter but could observe no more than a healthy colour.

"Polly looks very well," she said coldly.

"And she always wears a hat with a very wide brim!"

They all returned from the outing in a scratchy mood that the romantic ruins had done nothing to soothe and Polly was sorely tempted to reject the suggestion that they all go to the Fair at Cold Hollow two days hence.

Rather to her surprise, however, Laura March night seemed very eager to attend and almost begged Polly to go with her.

"The Fair is accounted to be great fun. Lady Polly," Laura said, looking hopeful.

"I am persuaded that you would enjoy it a great deal!"

Her anxious face relaxed into a smile at Polly's reluctant acquiescence.

In the event, Polly rather enjoyed the spectacle. Cold Hollow was only a small town, but its Fair was famous for miles around. The proceedings were opened by the Town Crier ringing the revels in as the Mayor processed down the street, accompanied by four civic dignitaries.

They seemed very full of their own importance and Polly and Laura could not help but laugh at their rather tattered livery of gold and blue.

Once the ceremonial part was over, the traders and stall holders were free to start peddling their goods. The visitors strolled between the booths, admiring the variety of entertainments, from livestock to a small circus.

Tristan Dit ton was persuaded to show his prowess in the boxing booth, despite Mrs Dit ton's protests that it was not suitable in front of the ladies. He took a heavy fall almost immediately against the Suffolk Champion, Mal Mar combe.

"Oh, dear," Lady Laura whispered in Polly's ear, "I believe Mr Dit ton's pride has taken the heaviest tumble! He looks quite furious! Do let us stroll on ahead, Lady Polly, and avoid his ill temper!"

The day was fine with a light breeze, and it was fun to meander through the crowd, eyeing the attractions. Lady Laura caught Polly's arm.

"Oh, look, a gypsy fortune-teller! I am minded to go in and discover my destiny!"

Polly hesitated, for she was not at all sure that this was the sort of entertainment of which the d.u.c.h.ess of March night would approve.

Turning around, Polly saw that Mrs Dit ton, their chaperon for the day, was a considerable distance behind and appeared to be involved in some kind of altercation with both her children and an angry stall holder.

Polly's heart sank. She had no wish to rejoin them and become embroiled in the dispute, and Lady Laura was already at the tent entrance, ready to pull aside the flap and go in.

"Very well," Polly said weakly.

"I shall wait here for you, Laura. And do not let them cozen you!"

But it was too late. Lady Laura had already disappeared into the tent's dusky, sweet-scented interior and with a sigh, Polly sat down on the gra.s.s to wait.

It was very warm in the sun and Polly was almost convinced that she had nodded off to sleep, although when she opened her eyes again everything looked much the same. She could not see the Dit tons, for which she was profoundly grateful, but as she blinked against the bright sunlight, she was almost certain that she saw Lady Laura, arm in arm with Mr Far rant, just pa.s.sing out of sight behind the roundabouts. She scrambled to her feet, pulling aside the tent flap and peering into the gypsy's den.

Dark, inquisitive eyes surveyed her from top to toe.

"Fortune, lady?" the old woman asked, holding out a hand to encourage Polly forward.

"I can tell you all about the handsome gentleman waiting to steal your heart--' " No, thank you," Polly said hastily, backing out of the tent.

So Laura had slipped away! Polly hurried past the stalls that lay between her and the fun fair. Where had they gone? Polly could not spot Laura's slender figure anywhere. Bells for sheep, leather gaiters, linen gaberdine for labourers, Birmingham jewellery... Polly's head spun. She hurried around a corner, convinced she could see Laura in the distance, and found herself back in front of the fortuneteller's tent. Nor was she alone there.

"Good afternoon. Lady Polly," Lord Henry March- night said politely.

Shock at his sudden appearance and the recollection that she had failed in her duty to keep an eye on his sister held Polly silent for a moment.

Henry was smiling very slightly.

"Have you lost your party again, perhaps?"

"No, of course not," Polly snapped, brushing the gra.s.s from her skirt and feeling foolish at having been caught in such a situation.

"I saw the Dit tons but a moment ago and I have been waiting for Lady Laura, who--' " Who has tricked you into thinking she was having her fortune told whilst in fact she is making secret a.s.signations," Lord Henry finished a little grimly.

"I take it that that is why I find you outside Madame Rose's tent, Lady Polly? You were not thinking of parting with your money in return for the a.s.surance that a tall, fair gentleman would presently sweep you off your feet?"

"Oh!" A variety of emotions, mostly uncomfortable, warred for ascendancy within Polly. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of a reply.

She accepted Lord Henry's arm and they started to walk slowly between the booths.

"It is too bad of Laura to take advantage of your good nature," he said, after a moment, seeing that Polly's innate good manners made it impossible for her to criticise his sister.

"In mitigation I can only say that she is very young and very much in love, and has not yet realised that true friendship should not be abused."

"If only she had confided in me--' Polly broke off, not wishing to suggest that she would have helped Lady Laura deceive her family. Lord Henry's sudden appearance in search of Laura and his grimness in the face of his sister's behaviour suggested that she certainly did not have his support.

"Is it certain?" she asked carefully.

"Do you know that she has arranged to meet Mr Fan-ant? I did think that I had seen them a moment ago."

"Indeed you did." Henry sounded rather grim.

"I saw them myself, walking past the gunsmith's stall. In fairness to Laura, I do not think that they mean to do more than meet and enjoy each other's company, but she should know better... Of course, she had no notion that I should be here today and see through her deception."

This brought Polly's mind back to other matters, equally disagreeable.

"I.

understood you to be at Weller den," she said, a little crossly.

"You are forever coming and going, are you not, sir?"

Henry laughed softly as he noted the martial light in her eyes.

"Ah, the gossips have been busy again! Indeed, I spent a few days there--' " In most entertaining company, I understand," Polly said, despite herself.

"Oh, the best! Can you doubt it?"

Polly almost stamped her foot, but knew he was only trying to provoke her.

"Well, I dare say our tastes differ there, my lord."

"I should hope so!" Henry laughed again as he saw her look of fury.