The Fortune Hunter Page 0,70

It had the effect of making Clyta look magnificent. Relaxed among friends in the country, Clyta was at her best.

With determination, Amy sat beside the duke and was pleased to hear that Lucy was complaining about the lack of decorum. The duke did not look as if he enjoyed the topic, and he turned away readily enough when Amy broke into the conversation.

"I do hope you weren't offended over the horse, your grace," she said in her best demure manner. "I feel so touched that you wanted to take care of me, and it is a long time since I last rode a spirited animal."

He preened a little. "Not at all, Miss de Lacy. I will certainly know better another time. And you mustn't be 'your gracing' me as if we were strangers."

"You're very kind. I did used to be a good rider, but I was never as good as Clyta."

He looked over at Clyta as she had intended. "No, she's a wonderful horsewoman."

Clyta laughed again. Her heavy dark hair was escaping its pins and she was beginning to look wanton, but in this situation it might work to her advantage. "She's enjoying herself," Amy said softly, trying to keep his attention fixed to Clyta. "She much prefers the country to London."

"Oh," said the duke, his eyes fixed where Amy wanted them as if glued.

"It is her duty, I suppose, as a duke's granddaughter to do a Season," Amy persevered, feeling like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. "I'm sure she'll marry well, don't you think, Duke? I know any number of eligible men are already interested." She leaned closer to his ear. "Don't you think her very handsome?"

By some act of Providence, Chart chose that moment to tease his sister so she pounced on him for a minor tussle. Her hair came down completely and a great deal of her shapely legs was revealed before Chart realized this and established some control.

"My, my," said Rowanford in the tones of a man who has had a revelation.

"Oh dear," said Amy briskly, leaping to her feet. "If Chart's going to tease, I think we should go and rescue Clyta. Brothers can be horrible," she added, whose only brother had never given her that kind of trouble at all.

Like a puppet, the duke got to his feet and followed. Amy settled him by Clyta, then drew Chart off. When she looked back and saw Clyta laughing and joking with the duke without a trace of shyness, and Rowanford leaning closer, bewitched, she felt she had done a fine piece of work. It might not amount to anything but it was a start, and in the hedonistic atmosphere of Maiden Hall anything could happen.

She glanced back at Lucy and received a glare of dislike. She felt no ill will toward the young woman and would have tried a little matchmaking on her behalf if she could, but Lucy couldn't have Rowanford because Clyta wanted him, and she couldn't have Chart or Harry because they both deserved a warmer heart.

Amy wasn't aware that Lord Templemore had disappeared until he came back. "I have arranged a little entertainment," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Amy immediately felt alarm and anticipation. What now?

"Not the maze," said Lord Randal with a groan.

"The maze," said Lord Templemore.

"Do you really have a maze?" asked Clyta, bouncing to her feet, then leaning down to pull Rowanford up. Amy winced, but the duke didn't seem to mind at all.

"I really do. A genuine Elizabethan maze that took a devilish amount of work to shape up again. Come and see."

The ladies resumed their stockings and boots, but that was the only gesture toward resuming propriety before they walked around the house. Amy was pleased to see the duke staying close to Clyta. She wondered why Lord Randal had seemed so amused at the thought of the maze. It sounded interesting, but no more than that.

They were walking along a tall, dense box hedge when Lord Templemore stopped by a narrow gap. Amy realized the hedge was part of the maze. It was at least eight feet high and impenetrable and stretched quite a distance in either direction. The narrow gap led to a path between more dense hedges. Amy suddenly felt nervous.

"There are four entrances - or exits," said their host, "and a central square with some statues. I've left two prizes in the center, one for the first lady, one for the first gentleman. They are to be given