The Fortune Hunter Page 0,47

you?" asked Sophie, much taken. "Then I wish I had accepted him."

He shook his head. "You're incorrigible. But at least in this case there's little mischief you can do, with Harry here and Amy de Lacy in Lincolnshire."

"No?" queried Sophie sweetly. "But this very morning I received a letter from Emily. They are on their way to Hampshire, but apparently as they left, gossip said that the beautiful Miss de Lacy has come to London for the Season. We could meet her anywhere." With a naughty grin at her alarmed husband, she swept off on the arm of another partner.

Amy and Aunt Lizzie were escorted by Sir Cedric to the lecture at the Surrey Institution. It proved to be on the plants of the Amazon. It was stupefyingly boring but afterward Amy eagerly accepted an invitation to attend another one the next week on the principles of steam locomotion. Sir Cedric was clearly interested in her, and he was exactly what she had come to London to find. She was not surprised, however, when Aunt Lizzie declined the treat, saying Amy hardly needed a chaperon to such an event.

Her aunt was pleased enough in the meantime to accompany Amy and her admirer to the Royal Academy, and to the British Museum to see the Egyptian antiquities. In her visions of a London Season, Amy had never imagined it to be quite so educational.

Each evening, however, there was a soiree, a rout, or an assembly to attend and ample opportunity to dance. Amy received three proposals in the first week, but, though at least one was unexceptionable, none of the gentlemen was rich enough for her purpose. At least, she thought wryly, she had learned to be a little more gracious in her refusals.

All her hopes lay with Sir Cedric.

Their second trip to the Surrey Institution was the first time they had been out alone, and Amy was excited and yet nervous. If Sir Cedric suddenly became loverlike, what should she do?

"And are you enjoying your time in London, Miss de Lacy?"

"Very much, Sir Cedric. Everyone is most kind."

"I must confess that I am a little surprised that you are not moving in the higher reaches of society to which you are entitled."

Amy flicked a glance at him. Was he suspicious? She made a decision. "We can't afford it," she said bluntly.

He nodded slightly as if she had confirmed something he already knew. "But you would have no objection to attending fashionable events?"

"No," she said. "I have no family or close friends to sponsor me, however."

"If you accompany me, you would need no sponsor." He smiled at her unguarded look of amazement. "The barriers of Society are flexible, Miss de Lacy, particularly before the pressure of wealth. I receive a great many invitations and attend what functions please me. I would like to see you shine in your appropriate setting."

"I do not consider myself above my present company, sir."

"And I admire you for it. But you are above it, Miss de Lacy. You could have all London at your feet."

Amy was torn between a natural desire to enjoy the social pleasures she had been raised to expect, and a feeling that it would be most unwise. "Why do you wish to do this for me?" she asked.

He smiled slightly, almost ruefully. "I think it important, that is all. I have already received an invitation to Carlton House, to the fete for the victorious allies in July. If you are still in Town at the time I would like you to accompany me. And your aunt, of course."

Amy felt a tremor of nervous anticipation. This must presage an offer, and yet that question mark - "if you are still in Town" - made it uncertain. Did he need encouragement?

He did not seem to be at all unsure of himself as he continued, "And the Russian Embassy is to hold a reception in two weeks. Will you accompany me to it, Miss de Lacy? The haute ton will be there in force, and you did say you wished to see the tsar."

It was no part of Amy's plan to mix with the fashionable elite, but she suppressed her qualms. "I would be pleased to attend," she said firmly.

This second lecture proved to be a little more interesting than the first, as there were a number of models which hissed and turned under the influence of steam. The lecturer was concerned with the use of steam in industry and transportation. He claimed steam could