The Fortune Hunter Page 0,44

too intelligent.

"La," she said, with a flutter of her fan, "I cannot wait to see the tsar, Sir Cedric. He is said to be remarkably handsome."

Sir Cedric appeared amused but he also showed admiration. Amy's heart began to beat faster. Was this the one?

He was surely in control of his own fortune, but how great was it? There was nothing to tell from his appearance, which was elegant but unostentatious.

If he did prove suitable, she would be Lady Forbes, which would soothe her family.

"Handsome men are not that rare a sight, Miss de Lacy," he said in response to her inanity. "You will doubtless see many during your weeks in Town."

"Oh, I do hope so," fluttered Amy, feeling a perfect fool.

Sir Cedric turned to his nephew. "I am sure you have a partner awaiting you, Peter. I will take care of Miss de Lacy until she feels ready to dance again."

Mr. Cranfield took a disgruntled leave and Sir Cedric turned back to Amy. "Some more wine, Miss de Lacy?"

"That would be delightful, Sir Cedric."

As soon as it was provided, he considered her with appreciation and a glint of something which could be friendly, teasing, or flirtatious. "Do you concern yourself only with looks then, young lady?"

Trapped in her act of silliness, Amy almost blurted out that she also concerned herself about money. What would this man want to hear? At his age he doubtless took life very seriously. "Indeed no, Sir Cedric," she said, muting the simper a shade or two. "I do delight in a man of character and intelligence and I love to hear an erudite discussion."

"How unfortunate then," he said with a twinkle, "that the debating society at the Athenian Lyceum has ceased to meet. But we now have the Surrey Institution, where excellent lectures are given on a great many interesting subjects. If you would like, Miss de Lacy, I would be delighted to escort you and your aunt there one day soon. I know that Mrs. Claybury has little interest in such events."

Amy wasn't sure she did either but she expressed enthusiasm for the plan. He then discussed a bewildering range of intellectual diversions available in the capital until another young hopeful came to beg a dance.

Amy longed to be back on the floor but did not want to offend her potential Croesus.

"Please, Miss de Lacy," he said, "if you are rested, go and prance with this young fellow. I rarely dance anymore but I would not deny you the pleasure. I will make all the arrangements with your aunt for our visit to the Surrey Institution."

As she left the refreshment room, Amy felt as if she had acquired a tutor rather than a suitor, but having made such hopeful progress she abandoned herself to the joys of the dance until the early hours of the morning.

The three ladies were tired but content on the way home.

Aunt Lizzie had spent most of her time in the card room playing whist, a pleasure denied her since Sir Digby's death, since only Beryl and Amy could play a decent game, and Amy found little pleasure in it. Together with the enjoyment, she had the satisfaction of ending the evening six shillings the richer.

Nell Claybury had enjoyed her wide circle of friends. "And I declare," she said, ''you danced every dance, Amy. You were a grand success. I expect my knocker to be constantly on the go now that you have been seen."

Though she knew it was true, Amy demurred. "Many of the callers will be for you, Mrs. Claybury. Whenever I looked around you were on the floor, too."

"I confess, I do love to dance," said Nell with a twinkle, "and there are usually some gentlemen gallant enough to take pity on an old lady."

Amy grinned at her. In her youthful pale green silk, Nell looked a good deal less than fifty. "I swear," Amy said, "I don't know how I am to catch a rich husband with you as competition."

"Flummery. And I doubt I have the mind to marry again. Did you meet anyone who interests you, dear?"

Amy was hesitant to put her hopes into words, but she needed to know the extent of Sir Cedric's wealth and so she named him.

"My dear!" declared Nell. "He is a regular Midas. Or is that who I mean? Forbes Bank, you know."

Amy didn't, but a bank sounded just what she needed.

"Of course he is rather old," said Nell, "but still very handsome and so charming. He and my