it, she really shouldn’t...
Lord Algernon went even more pale, and stared at Dominic as if at the devil himself. Appalled gasps spread through the tent, and Georgiana screeched all me more, stamping her foot like a spoilt child. “Oh, monstrous creature! Monstrous creature!” she sobbed.
Dominic was incensed. “Miss Peach, I find your suggestion most offensive, for you denigrate not only my character, but Lady Georgiana’s as well!”
Polly’s fists were clenched as she stood up to him. “I didn’t throw the parasol!”
“Nordid I!”
As they gazed brightly at each other, both so incandescent with anger that further words failed them both. Bodkin rubbed his hands with glee and gave a low chuckle. Polly heard him, and her lips parted on a gasp of realization. She glanced around, but saw nothing. She still knew he was there, though, and was deeply hurt that he could be so vindictive. She was his friend—she’d even come to Bath to help him, and this was the thanks she got!
Dominic watched her curiously. What was wrong with her? Had she been allowed too soon from a Bedlam? Yes, that increasingly seemed the likelihood! “Are you feeling unwell. Miss Peach?” he asked then.
Her eyes flew guiltily to his face. She’d accused him of a dreadful thing, of which she now knew him to be innocent. What on earth was she going to say to him? “I... I, er...”
She was spared the need to say more because at that moment there came from outside the sound of a resoundingly feu de joie, followed by hearty cheers as the Duke and Duchess of York arrived with their entourage. As the regimental band began to play “God Save the King,” the need to see royalty at close hand got the better of the gathering in the tent. The incident with the jelly was forgotten as everyone surged out through the entrance, forcing Polly and Dominic to step hastily out of the way. Lord Algernon dashed out as well, for he had duties to perform in the review, but Georgiana had to remain behind, because it would be a social disaster to appear before royalty without a hat. Sniffing pathetically and dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief, she stared at her once jaunty hat and the devastation of jelly and parasol. Gingerly she reached out, took the parasol between her thumb and first finger, and dropped it contemptuously to the grass. Then she rescued the hat and tried to mop up what she could.
Polly found the jelly of infinitely more interest than Georgiana, for it was shaking most suspiciously, as if someone—or something—were eating it Bodkin! Without a second thought she hastened forward, and at her approach Georgiana fled from the tent, not observing Dominic, who had withdrawn into the shadows to watch Polly’s peculiar conduct.
Chapter 12
Polly reached the shivering jelly and whispered urgently. “Bodkin? I know you’re there! Why have you done this?” she hissed angrily, but there was no response.
Dominic heard her low voice, but could not make out what she was saying. All he knew was that she seemed to be addressing the jelly, and his conviction increased that she should be under lock and key.
Polly spoke again, but there was still no answer, even though she knew the brownie was there by the way the jelly continued to tremble. Now that she was close she could see small pieces of jelly ‘being grasped by invisible fingers and shoved indecorously into an invisible mouth. Hoping to catch him unaware, she suddenly darted forward, snatching at the air where she knew he would be. She caught his arm, and with a squeal he squirmed so frantically that he wrenched himself free almost immediately.
Dominic’s eyes widened. What on earth was she doing? And why did she squeal like that? Oh, heavens, she was becoming violent!
A whiff of cloves drifted briefly over Polly, then the buffet was knocked in all directions as Bodkin fled along the trestles. She followed, trying to snatch him again. “For heaven’s sake listen to me!” she
Lord Algernon went even more pale, and stared at Dominic as if at the devil himself. Appalled gasps spread through the tent, and Georgiana screeched all me more, stamping her foot like a spoilt child. “Oh, monstrous creature! Monstrous creature!” she sobbed.
Dominic was incensed. “Miss Peach, I find your suggestion most offensive, for you denigrate not only my character, but Lady Georgiana’s as well!”
Polly’s fists were clenched as she stood up to him. “I didn’t throw the parasol!”
“Nordid I!”
As they gazed brightly at each other, both so incandescent with anger that further words failed them both. Bodkin rubbed his hands with glee and gave a low chuckle. Polly heard him, and her lips parted on a gasp of realization. She glanced around, but saw nothing. She still knew he was there, though, and was deeply hurt that he could be so vindictive. She was his friend—she’d even come to Bath to help him, and this was the thanks she got!
Dominic watched her curiously. What was wrong with her? Had she been allowed too soon from a Bedlam? Yes, that increasingly seemed the likelihood! “Are you feeling unwell. Miss Peach?” he asked then.
Her eyes flew guiltily to his face. She’d accused him of a dreadful thing, of which she now knew him to be innocent. What on earth was she going to say to him? “I... I, er...”
She was spared the need to say more because at that moment there came from outside the sound of a resoundingly feu de joie, followed by hearty cheers as the Duke and Duchess of York arrived with their entourage. As the regimental band began to play “God Save the King,” the need to see royalty at close hand got the better of the gathering in the tent. The incident with the jelly was forgotten as everyone surged out through the entrance, forcing Polly and Dominic to step hastily out of the way. Lord Algernon dashed out as well, for he had duties to perform in the review, but Georgiana had to remain behind, because it would be a social disaster to appear before royalty without a hat. Sniffing pathetically and dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief, she stared at her once jaunty hat and the devastation of jelly and parasol. Gingerly she reached out, took the parasol between her thumb and first finger, and dropped it contemptuously to the grass. Then she rescued the hat and tried to mop up what she could.
Polly found the jelly of infinitely more interest than Georgiana, for it was shaking most suspiciously, as if someone—or something—were eating it Bodkin! Without a second thought she hastened forward, and at her approach Georgiana fled from the tent, not observing Dominic, who had withdrawn into the shadows to watch Polly’s peculiar conduct.
Chapter 12
Polly reached the shivering jelly and whispered urgently. “Bodkin? I know you’re there! Why have you done this?” she hissed angrily, but there was no response.
Dominic heard her low voice, but could not make out what she was saying. All he knew was that she seemed to be addressing the jelly, and his conviction increased that she should be under lock and key.
Polly spoke again, but there was still no answer, even though she knew the brownie was there by the way the jelly continued to tremble. Now that she was close she could see small pieces of jelly ‘being grasped by invisible fingers and shoved indecorously into an invisible mouth. Hoping to catch him unaware, she suddenly darted forward, snatching at the air where she knew he would be. She caught his arm, and with a squeal he squirmed so frantically that he wrenched himself free almost immediately.
Dominic’s eyes widened. What on earth was she doing? And why did she squeal like that? Oh, heavens, she was becoming violent!
A whiff of cloves drifted briefly over Polly, then the buffet was knocked in all directions as Bodkin fled along the trestles. She followed, trying to snatch him again. “For heaven’s sake listen to me!” she
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