Nancy Mitford Novels Part III

Polly comes to stay at Alconleigh, after a big row with her mother, who insists that she will be cut out of her father's will. Lady Montdore is positively crazy with rage. Sadie, Lady Alconleigh is willing to help her neighbour by taking Polly in for a bit. She tries to talk Polly out of her determination to marry Boy. Polly says that Boy has a small income and he makes money with his coffee table books. Since Lord Montdore cannot leave her Hampton, she does not care about the family fortune. Lady Montdore is furious. Davey talks to Boy and realises that Boy is helpless in this situation. He flirted with her as a young girl and did not realise that he had made her fall for him. Polly and Boy marry, in a quiet ceremony, and go to live on the continent, where it's cheaper. Lady Montdore is very lonely without Boy and Polly. However, the family have reached out to Cedric Hampton, who was born in Canada. He is Lord Montdore's cousin and heir to the Earldom. His father had lived abroad for most of his life and the Montdores knew nothing about him. They had ignored his existence, before, because they had Polly but now she's gone. Cedric's parents are dead and he has left Canada, and is living in Paris. He is delighted to be offered a home at Hampton, and soon becomes fond of Lady Montdore and Fanny. He is artistic and enjoys the beautiful things in the house. He is also flamboyantly gay. Lord Montdore decides to leave him his fortune, since Lady Montdore does not want the money to go to Polly.