"I cannot have been so very long," he said with a smile, tossing his hat onto a chair and drawing offhis gloves. "I was on the way here when your messenger came up with me in St. Martin's Lane. What is all the hurry? Why are you not dressed at this hour?"

"I did try, m'lord," Sue said hastily, as if Polly's dishabille were due to some dereliction of duty on her part.

"Oh, 'tis not your fault, Sue," Polly declared impatiently. "I am quite able to dress myself, you know. I have been doing so for almost the last seventeen years."

"Then why have you not done so this morning?" inquired Kincaid. "Are you excused attendance at the rehearsal? 'Tis near ten of the clock, you know."

"I have some news," Polly said, turning back to the bedchamber. "I thought it urgent."

"Then you shall tell me while you dress," Nick said in soothing tones. He followed her into the bedchamber, closing the door on Sue in the parlor. "What is it, sweetheart, that has so thrown you into such disarray?"

"Why, 'tis Buckingham, of course." Polly picked up her corset and gave him her back in mute request. He fastened the laces, listening as she told of the duke's gift and invitation, and of her response.

"Tomorrow night?" he mused. "I heard mention of the gathering at court last even. 'Tis to be one of Buckingham's

revels-the entertainments he puts on for his intimates." He frowned. "You will not be the only woman there, moppet."

"Women are part of the entertainment at these revels, then?" Polly stepped into her gown, under no illusions as to what Nick meant.

"Aye," he said slowly. "But there are also always women guests."

Those who would not find the prospect of such entertainment a matter of disgust. Polly nodded thoughtfully. There were plenty such at court. "Will there be opportunity for me to glean impressions of some import, think you?"

"Undoubtedly," Nick said. "These are the gatherings that are closed to all but his most intimate friends and those he provides for their entertainment, of course," he added. "But since the entertainers are unlikely to have any understanding, let alone interest in, the political undercurrents, on such an occasion there will be no dissembling. If you know what to look for, you will see it."

"And you will tell me what to look for?" She sat before the mirror, beginning to comb her hair, the automatic movements serving to calm her, to still the restless energy.

Nick came up behind her, laying his hands on her shoulders. "You will be told exactly what to look for, Polly. But it is not too late to call a halt to this. You have but to say." She looked into the eyes fastened upon hers in the mirror. They were calm and matter-of-fact. How long had he contemplated this role for her? Since Buckingham had shown interest in her? Or before? The question would not lie down, yet she could not ask it for fear of the answer.

" 'Tis not unlike a part I played before," she said, dragging her eyes away from his. "I have played lure-"

"There is no similarity!" Nick exclaimed, anger chasing away his composure. "How can you talk such foolishness, draw such a stupid comparison?"

Polly shrugged, letting the question go by default. She could see the similarity, if Nick could not. She tucked her hair under a lace-trimmed cap and stood up. "I had best make haste if I am not to be late."

"I will accompany you to the theatre, then I must go and talk with Richard and the others." Nick spoke briskly. "And if you wish for there to be peace between us, you will not speak in that fashion again." He strode into the parlor, picking up his hat and gloves, waiting by the door for Polly, his lips set in an uncompromising line.

They walked in silence to the Theatre Royal. It was as if this shared conspiracy, this partnership that ought to have drawn them closer, had instead raised up a barrier between them, a prickly tension where before there had been laughter and love.

"Will you stay with me this night?" Polly asked as they reached their destination. She looked up at him, her face framed in the demure blue and white cap, and he was dazzled afresh by her beauty. Familiarity did not blunt its effect in the least.

"I would have this last night, before we begin in earnest, just for ourselves," she said softly.

Nick nodded. "After the performance we will go to supper at the French house that you are so fond of, and you shall have the finest Rhenish with lobsters and lamprey pie."

"And cheesecakes," added Polly, entering into the spirit of this effort to return matters between them to their customary humorous ease.

"And cheesecakes," he agreed with mock solemnity. "And afterward…"

"Having plied me shamelessly with all my favorite good things in my favorite eating house, you will have your way with me." Polly chuckled and gave an involuntary skip at the prospect.

"Exactly so."

"Shame on you, my lord!"

They stood for a moment enmeshed in the promise, with no need of words when their eyes were so articulate. Then Nick shook himself free of enchantment. "Be off," he said. "Thomas has a short way with the tardy."

"Aye." Polly turned to the door behind her. "Until this afternoon, my lord."

Nick saw her into the theatre, then went back to the lodging for his horse. Why would Polly say something like that? Surely only if she suspected that he had had an ulterior motive all along. But Richard had said there was no suggestion of such a thing in the discussion he had had with her. And surely he himself had put the possibility of such a suspicion to rest with his angry responses. He must not allow these shadows to fall between them, must not allow his own apprehension to spill over to her. She needed all the strength he could impart; and her greatest strength would come from the rigorous, matter-of-fact preparation he and the others could give her.

Chapter 14

You understand what we want of you, Polly?" The question was posed by one of the four men crowding the parlor the following evening. Smoke from two clay pipes curled, drifting on the breeze through the open window.

Polly nodded at Sir Peter Appleby, resplendent in full periwig and scarlet satin-the veritable epitome of dandyism, except that the foppish exterior concealed a needlesharp wit. She had become familiar with these friends of Nick's since taking up her abode in Drury Lane, but only now did she know that beneath the friendship lay a stern commitment. "It seems clear enough, Sir Peter."

"Then perhaps you would run through it for us, so that we can be sure there are no misunderstandings," suggested Charles Conway.

Nick, leaning against the mantel above the empty hearth, puffing reflectively upon his pipe, was content to observe, leaving Polly's briefing to his colleagues. She would receive his instructions, of a more personal nature, before she left for Buckingham's revels.

"I am to pay particular attention to any conversations between the duke and the Earl of Arlington, noting any references to the Earl of Clarendon," Polly said readily.

"You do understand why this is important, Polly?" asked De Winter.

"Well, as I understand it," said Polly, "Lord Clarendon wishes to strengthen the alliance with France-an alliance which the king favors-but the Earl of Arlington, who is secretary of state, wishes to draw closer to Spain. Arlington and Buckingham are working together to undermine the chancellor's influence with the king, and will impeach him if they can produce just cause. Since you consider it would be dangerous for England to be at odds with France at this time, with the Dutch war going on, it is particularly important to know what plans Buckingham and his friends have for Clarendon." She smiled cheerfully as she completed this exposition. "Do I have it right?"