The Fortune Hunter Page 0,59

all she could do was make sure that competition was not herself. "The duke wouldn't offer for a penniless creature such as I," she said briskly, "and he would probably look for higher birth, too. It seems to me that dukes tend to marry into other ducal families."

"Do you think so?" asked Clyta, brightening. "But if he did offer?" she persisted. "After all, there were the Gunning sisters."

"If Rowanford were to offer," said Amy firmly, "I would not accept." They entered the ballroom, where selections from Cosi fan tutte were being sung by part of the company from the Royal Opera. Amy leaned close to Clyta's ear. "If you don't mind, Clyta, I would like to join Sir Cedric over there."

Clyta turned a brilliant smile on her. "Of course not, dearest." She even squeezed her hand. "Good luck."

As Amy wove her way across the room, she tried to think of ways to help Clyta snare the Duke of Rowanford, and failed. Clyta had her fair share of the family's handsome looks, and when at ease and natural she was possessed of an innocent charm, but she was not showing at all well in Society. Even if the duke were looking for a bride - and he was on the young side, being surely of an age with Chart Ashby and Harry Crisp - there was little reason for his choice to fall on Clyta.

And yet Chart Ashby had said that Harry Crisp was looking for a bride. Amy stopped dead.

He'd produced that abrupt offer after the slightest of acquaintance. Had he just been trying to get a bride with as little trouble as possible? And for that he'd put her through this torture of self-recrimination and exposed her to the taunting of his friends?

She wished she had the rejecting of him to do all over again!

She saw Nell, Lizzie, and Sir Cedric and eased in next to them. Sir Cedric's welcoming smile did seem very warm and admiring. Amy smiled back as brilliantly as she knew how. Ask me, Sir Cedric. Ask me now. Then I can go home and never see Harry Crisp again, at least not until I'm safely married.

Sir Cedric was kind and attentive for the remainder of the ball, but he said nothing particular. Amy pinned her hopes on tomorrow's visit to his home.

Chapter 11

Sir Cedrics house was very fine. It was new, with snowy white stucco, large, gleaming windows, and a fine garden. He invited his guests to stroll with him down the length of the garden to the orchard, but only Amy accepted. Lizzie and Nell preferred to rest on chairs on the lawn close to the house.

As Amy and Sir Cedric passed a yew hedge so they were out of sight of her chaperons, her heart began to beat faster. Was this the moment?

"How lovely this is," she said.

"I do not keep up a country property, Miss de Lacy, having little time for it, and so I like to have the country here in London."

"One could almost think oneself in the country, Sir Cedric." Amy felt she was gushing but the comment was true. The large garden, with flowers, fruit trees, and vegetables was surrounded by a high wall, which cut out the bustle of the city. The place seemed extraordinarily full of bees and butterflies, as if they recognized the haven it represented.

"I think you miss the country, my dear."

"Yes," said Amy, only then realizing that this wasn't the right answer for someone who had just admitted that he rarely went there. She went on quickly, "But that is largely because I have always lived in the country."

"So you are enjoying London?"

"Oh yes. There are so many new things to see and do."

"And when you have done them all?" he asked.

Amy felt rather as if she were being interrogated, but she smiled at him. "Was it not Dr. Johnson who said, 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life?' I assure you I am not tired of life yet, Sir Cedric."

He laughed, "I should hope not, young lady. You have your life spread before you like a magic carpet. You are made for balls and other festivities. You should enjoy them to the full while you are here."

That "while you are here" sounded ominous. "But I expect to be here for a long time," she said firmly.

He made no response, but changed direction so they were returning to the house. Amy felt desperate. This was surely the