said in a rush. "It will be fun if you're there. We can ask your aunt and Mrs. Claybury. I'm sure they'd like it, too. Please say yes. I need you, Amy. And that," she added, with strange intensity, "is the truth."
Amy stared at Clyta. It looked like a conspiracy, but that was ridiculous. There was no connection between Sir Cedric and the Ashbys. "I was not intending to move in such high circles," she demurred.
"Why not?" asked Clyta. "You're entitled to. I'm sure there will be any number of people there you know."
That was what Amy was afraid of. She wanted to ask if Clyta knew Harry Crisp but didn't dare. Then she realized something. "Good Lord. Your brother's Chart, isn't he?"
Clyta nodded, looking scared.
"You only ever used to call him Charteris."
Clyta licked her lips. "That's because Mama insisted. But he prefers to be called Chart. Do you know him?"
"We met once," said Amy dryly. "I suppose he is in Town."
Clyta nodded, and the guilt was clear on her face.
Amy knew then if she went to Clyta's ball she would at least be in the same room as Harry Crisp. Chart Ashby would bring his friend along, and there might be some plan afoot to bring them face to face, though why Amy could not imagine. Were they planning revenge by humiliating her in public? She remembered her shift, but surely they wouldn't sink so low as to shame her at Clyta's ball.
And Clyta probably did need her support. It had never been easy for her to make friends. Amy couldn't imagine that Clyta would be part of a malicious plot against her.
Amy thought of Clyta's belief that she was so honest. Perhaps the time had come for honesty. It was ridiculous to be pretending to be a pretty wigeon in order to catch a husband. She couldn't keep it up for the rest of her life. It was equally silly to be hiding for fear of meeting a gentleman she hardly knew.
She would be herself, face down the devil, and by showing that she belonged in the very highest stratas of Society, bring Sir Cedric to the point.
"I will be delighted to attend, Clyta," said Amy.
Chapter 10
Chart was convinced his hair was turning gray by the minute. It was close to the time to leave for his sister's ball, and Harry was sitting in his shirtsleeves playing with a doll. The music tinkled and the dancing lady raised her leg and pointed her toe.
"Will you stop fiddling with that damned thing!" he snapped.
Harry looked up with an ironic smile. "Why the heat? Clyta doesn't care whether I attend or not." There was a ping, and the dancer's leg went limp.
"Yes she does. She asked after you particularly."
Harry looked up from the mechanism to raise an unusually cynical brow. "If she's developed a crush on me, I'd best stay away. You were right. We wouldn't suit."
Chart walked over, picked up the automaton, and placed it on the sideboard. "She does not have a crush on you, but she's nervous and wants a horde of handsome young men to do her proud, at least some of them not related. You're coming."
Harry gave a brief laugh and rose. "If it means that much." He went to a mirror and inspected his cravat, rearranging the folds slightly. "I suppose Lucy Frogmorton may be there. I suspect I may end up married to her."
Chart could feel more gray hairs sprouting by the minute.
Clyta's ball was to be held at the magnificent mansion belonging to her uncle, the Duke of Tyne. As the Claybury carriage set them down in front of it, Amy reflected that she might have been hasty in writing off the fortunes of the ton. Some people were obviously still very rich.
"It is a very fine house, isn't it?" said Sir Cedric as he assisted her down. It had turned out that he, too, had an invitation to this event and so he had arranged to escort them. On the whole, Amy was pleased. She would be able to show him she wasn't afraid of moving in high circles, and - should the worst happen - he would form a buffer between herself and Harry Crisp.
Amy kept to her resolution and ceased acting a part. She did not know whether Sir Cedric noticed it or not, but it had certainly not diluted his regard. Amy had no doubt he felt warmly toward her and she waited anxiously for him to