The door opened and Robert Makepeace walked in. His eyes fixed on Harry, then Dempsey who stood up "I can hit a whole lot harder he threatened"
Robert ignored Dempsey and returned his gaze to Harry.
"Well you made a spectacle of your self today Harriett" the sarcasm was uppermost
"I rather think you outshone me Robert"
"Your sweet, funny awards 'I love an English rose' and you wore one in your hair" his pace built up "If it hadn't been for your father you would have made a greater fool of yourself, as it was your partner, no double entendre intended of course, did that for you, the lady with blond hair and beautiful eyes"
"I can't recall you ever being romantic Robert, may be that's why we spent so little time together."
"Well your standards have certainly changed"
"Yours have certainly sunk to an all time low"
"You deceive your father"
"I would never"
Dempsey moved, he would not let Robert throw such lies into the air, but Robert moved his fixation onto Dempsey.
"You sleep with her in her bedroom"
Dempsey refused to come down into the gutter to argue, sleep not 'sleep' flickered through his mind.
Robert continued "Even that maid saw him go back into your room naked"
"Exactly what did she say Robert?" Harry's confidence in the situation was beginning to rise. She remembered Mrs Protherall's words earlier, Robert was most certainly jealous, she knew how to infuriate him "When he came back to me I believe the towel had only been about to slip off his hips! Not exactly naked Robert"
Robert was shell shocked "Harriet!" the Harriett he knew had always been more reserved.
"Why did you bother coming Robert?"
"I really don't know"
"Neither do I" Harry was cool "Perhaps next time let your solicitor write, it may be a lot less hassle for you"
"You've changed Harriett"
"I know" she looked over to Dempsey and smiled, her eyes turned back to Robert "My friends call me Harry now, good bye Robert, I expect someone can drive you to the station, WE" she emphasised by a second glance in Dempsey's direction "have a ball to host and a first dance to lead."
Robert turned and walked out. Dempsey unclenched his fists, he felt so proud of Harry, this time he did pick her up, as he swung her around him he laughed "Harry you never cease to amaze me"
"Hey, put me down, you'll make a spectacle out of me"
Dempsey saw the tease in her eyes "Ok, but you need to tell me about this dance, have you got any more surprises up your sleeve for me?"
"That last one wasn't my fault!"
"Harry I came to support you, not host some English Castle thing"
"Well you can blame my father for that"
"Let's forget about the blaming, just tell me what happens next"
"We go back, when everyone has finished their meal and lead the first dance"
"Like a wedding?"
"Like a wedding"
"Harry, you're not hiding something from me?"
"We start the first dance, others join us. Then I guess you can go and dance with all the pretty women"
"With you then"
She blushed, "I'm going to re do my make up, I'll be back soon"
Dempsey wandered out to the marquee entrance and spoke to Collins, who was on the door. He confirmed that Robert Makepeace had been around all day; others had seen him skulking in the back ground. Now he had been taken to the local train station and put on a train back to Cambridge, which Dempsey ascertained was where he was now living.
Jameson came out, "We're serving coffee, is Lady Harriet ready?"
Dempsey asked a couple of questions about the dance and went back to collect Harry.
