The Fortune Hunter Page 0,64

authority on dukes. A duke's self-esteem can only be dented by a grenade." He put two fingers in his mouth like a barrow-boy and whistled. His wife waved and rode back.

"You," he said as soon as she arrived, "are in need of a rest."

"Hardly," she replied.

He ignored this. "Miss de Lacy has kindly agreed to let you borrow this placid, gentle beast for a while. I'm sure you are grateful."

"Oh no," Amy protested, but was overridden.

"How kind," said Sophie. "I'm sure I am in need of a rest. Married life," she said faintly, with a sliding look at her husband, "is so exhausting."

He was fighting laughter as he dismounted and assisted them in the exchange, adjusting the stirrup leathers. By this time the rest of the party had gathered.

"Is something the matter?" Rowanford asked.

"Sophie needs a rest," said Randal, causing looks of astonishment from all except the duke, "and Miss de Lacy has agreed it would do her good to be a bit more venturesome. Perhaps you could stay with Sophie for a little while, Rowanford, while I see how Miss de Lacy does."

He gave the duke no chance to object but led the way into a piece of light woodland. Amy happily followed. Lady Randal's black thoroughbred was a marvelous piece of horseflesh. They were soon traveling the wide bridle paths at a canter.

He grinned at her. "All right?"

"Of course! I only meant I was a little out of practice, not that I was unable to ride entirely."

There was a log lying across the path ahead. "Game?" he asked.

Amy nodded and they both sailed over it. She laughed.

He slowed his mount down. "We mustn't tire them. There's a way to go. If we head this way it should bring us back to the road." As the pace steadied he said, "You ride well."

Amy looked at him. "I was raised in the Shires, Lord Randal."

He laughed. "I suppose you were. And the Belvoir used to meet at Stonycourt, didn't it? I remember attending there."

Amy nodded. "In better days."

They rode on, hooves muffled by the soft leaf mold, seeming alone among the trees in heavy green leaf.

Suddenly he spoke. "There are more important things in life than money, you know."

Amy was shocked by the attack. "There speaks someone who has never been without."

"True," he acknowledged. "But my comment is still valid. No one can survive without food and shelter, but I would give up almost everything for Sophie."

Amy knew what he was saying, and it was unfair, but she couldn't say so. "We are all different, I suppose, my lord."

They had come to the road, and the party was some way behind.

"I wonder," he said, then called to the others.

Chapter 12

They speeded up and soon the party was all together again. Amy insisted on changing horses and soon found herself partnered with the duke.

"I am sorry the horse is too slow for you," he said stiffly.

Amy was about to be conciliatory when she realized that she might serve Clyta's case better if she could keep his feathers ruffled. "It is a little placid, your grace," she said. "I was raised in hunting country and am used to spirited mounts."

He turned distinctly cool. "Perhaps Templemore will be able to offer you an exchange for the return." At the earliest opportunity he jumped his gray into a nearby meadow for a gallop. Randal and Sophie were already gone. Chart and Miss Frogmorton were ahead. When Clyta and Harry moved to follow the duke, Amy saw her chance and called out, "Mr. Crisp!"

He turned, startled, then waved Clyta on and came back.

Clyta flashed Amy a grateful smile and set off after the duke. Amy had acted on impulse, but now she was faced with the problem of what to say to her rejected suitor.

"Yes, Miss de Lacy," he said warily as his horse came alongside hers.

Amy badly wanted him to smile at her. "I wish we could put an end to the ill feelings between us, sir."

He raised his brows. "Ill feelings?" he queried. "I would say we disliked one another intensely."

Amy swallowed and stared between her horse's ears. "I don't dislike you."

When she risked a look at him, he seemed sober. "Don't you? You're very tolerant of insults then."

"You insulted me and I hit you. That should wipe the slate clean."

He appeared skeptical. "What's the matter? Are all your other suitors failing you, Miss de Lacy? You have just mishandled Rowanford, but don't despair. You can doubtless get him back with a