Page 40 of The Captain of Betrayal

One Year Later...

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Polly grumbled in reply.

She had never felt so anxious in all of her life and if she wasn't Polly the Jack, granddaughter of the legendary boxer Peter Bromwell, and the past queen of the Newcastle streets, she might have had a fit of the vapours. But she was brave, tough and strong, and she had her loving husband by her side, to help her face the forthcoming adversity.

"There you are," Olive, Duchess of Everleigh called happily, as James and Polly disembarked their carriage. Olive stood beside her husband at the open door of Everleigh House, the Duke's London residence. From behind them, Polly could hear the sound of hundreds of people chattering happily and an orchestra tuning up.

"You look beautiful Polly," Olive breathed, as Polly and James reached the top step.

Indeed, even Polly had to concede, that the dress she wore was a masterpiece, stitched together by an irritable French modiste, who had bemoaned Polly's fidgeting. The empire line dress was made of sumptuous, green velvet, and it fell in an elegant sweep to the floor. Polly's hair had been arranged in an upstyle, her wild curls wrestled into place by the lady's maid who had been employed at Olive's recommendation.

"She's very patient," Olive had said, and indeed the girl had not even blinked as Polly had protested, quite colourfully, against the pain of the process.

"Beauty is pain," Lara, the lady's maid had replied grimly through a mouthful of pins.

Polly was quite glad that the girl had not listened to her, for now, looking as rich and glamorous as all the other guests felt almost like a suit of armour. Inside she felt she did not fit in but on the outside, she looked as though she had just as every right to be there as anyone else.

"They're all staring," Polly whispered with alarm to James, as the footman announced their arrival into the ballroom.

"Of course they are," James replied, with a placating pat to her hand, "The papers have talked of nothing but the scandal since I had the title restored."

And there was nothing that thetonloved more than a scandal, Polly thought, as she noted people contorting into strange shapes so they could better catch a glimpse of the Earl and Countess of Ludlow. Still, it wasn't as bad has she had imagined it might be; if only because her imagination had run riot in the days preceding the ball. She had endured visions of snooty Lords and Ladies heckling her, snubbing her, or even mistaking her for a servant, but all she had to tolerate was a few whispers and pointed stares.

"There you are," Lady Jayne Payne cried, as Polly and James finished their circuit of the ballroom. Jane was, as per usual, playing the wallflower, whilst her husband could be seen chatting loudly to a circle of his acquaintances. Lord and Lady Payne were polar opposites, with Jane being something of an introvert and James being a complete extrovert. Still, once Lord Payne spotted Polly and James, he bounded over to say hello.

"Lud, I thought I'd never escape that lot," he said, with a swift kiss to Jane's cheek.

"Really?" Jane lifted an eyebrow in disbelief, "Only two minutes ago I saw you launch into your rendition of The Sailor of Southwark. If I'm not mistaken, that limerick goes on for thirty-nine verses."

"Thirty-eight, actually," Lord Payne flushed a little, before turning to Polly and James with a warm smile. "Lovely to see you both--are you enjoying the festivities?"

"Lud, no," Polly confessed. She had always found Lord Payne quite charming and his easy nature invited confidences.

"The trick is to be seen to be seen, then leave," Payne whispered conspiratorially. "Jane leaves the being seen bit to me, for one usually assumes she is nearby, then we disappear after the first dance."

"We're not that bad," Jane objected, then looked down at her bump, which was showing despite the generous material of her dress. "At least we weren't before."

"Now we are like fusty matrons, leaving to rest our feet before ten," Payne finished, though judging from the pure joy on his face, he didn't mind one bit.

"Poor Hestia can't even last an hour at a ball, she is so far along," Jane whispered to Polly as the men began to discuss politics. Lady Delaney, who had once disguised herself as Jane's lady's maid, was expecting her first child with the Marquess of Falconbridge. Polly was delighted for the young woman, for Hestia had endured a lot of hardship in her life.

"Everyone is increasing," Polly mused aloud.

"Everyone?" Jane queried, her eyes mischievous.

Polly kept her silence and as the orchestra began the first dance, she allowed James to lead her toward the dance floor. This was the moment she had been dreading the most, but thanks to the excellent tutelage of Poppy and Alexandra, who had spent every afternoon of the last week teaching Polly the steps of several dances, she managed to pull off the cotillion with aplomb.

"We survived," Polly said with a smile, as she and James returned to the safe anonymity of the crowd.

"We did," James lifted her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss upon it, "And we never have to do that again, if you don't wish to."

It had been James who had wanted to attend the ball, to give thetona glimpse of the new Earl of Ludlow and to show them that he was not cowed by his background, or their interest in his parent's scandalous marriage. He had succeeded, for Polly saw several women casting him appreciative glances, whilst the men looked on in envy.

"I quite enjoyed myself," Polly replied lightly, reaching out to touch his arm, "And perhaps, after the baby is born, we shall hold a ball of our own?"

"What a splendid idea," James replied, his face momentarily eager before it froze, as her words sank in. "Are you..?"

"Yes," Polly whispered, so filled with happiness that she felt she might burst. "Are you excited?"

"Excited doesn't even begin to describe it," James replied, pulling her toward him so that he could place a most unfashionable kiss upon her lips. "You have made me the happiest man alive, Lady Livingstone."

"And you have made me the happiest woman, James; you are truly the Captain of my Heart."