The Virtuous Ward - By Karla Darcy Page 0,36

been a highwayman in your younger days, you wretch," Amity muttered. She edged closer, dropping her voice to a coaxing tone. "Look here, good fellow, let's have an end to this haggling. These are all the coins I have with me." Hiding her hand from the ring of spectators, she opened it to give the man a glimpse of the contents. "If you say me nay, I shall leave and you will have on your hands only a half-dead horse. If you agree, I'll put the coins in my reticule and hand you the purse. You can brag to every one that you drove a hard bargain and I shall not gainsay you."

Amity had guessed to a nicety that the man was eager to save face before the crowd. Greed was apparent in his squinty eyes and he licked his lips once before nodding his head with a jerky movement. On cue, Amity jammed the coins inside the purse and shaking her head in chagrin, handed it to the grinning carter. The crowd cheered and her face flushed at once more being the center of their attention.

"Lord love ya, Miss Amity," Betta cried, her face ashen with worry. "How ever are you going to explain this to his lordship?"

Amity gulped at the mention of her guardian but bravely shrugged away her concern. "I shall tell him the horse followed me home."

She watched the carter free the horse from her traces and then loop a dirty rope through the halter. She stepped forward and extended her gloved hand to accept the lead rope.

" 'Er name's Guinevere," the man said, guffawing.

"I would have guessed as much."

Amity turned to lead the horse away and the crowd cheered once more, shouting words of encouragement which made her blush. Raising her chin, she started down the street calling to Betta and Muffin as she went. She had gone a short way when she heard a squeal from her abigail and turned to the girl who was frozen in her tracks, a look of horror suffusing her face.

"Lawks, miss!" Betta hissed. "It's his lordship."

"It needed only that," Amity muttered.

She groaned, wondering if it were possible to disappear off the face of the earth. There was nothing for it then but to brazen it out. She turned her head just as her guardian's carriage drew abreast of her. The window was down and Max, his green eyes flashing under narrowed lids, was framed in the opening.

"And where are you off to with your merry little band?" Max drawled.

Amity gritted her teeth at his bantering tone and raised her chin with great dignity. Perhaps the impression she hoped to give was slighty diminished when the mare stumbled but she kept her eyes fixed to a spot above her guardian's head and pretended she had noticed nothing amiss. "I am for home," she said.

"Can I assume you are accompanied by a new addition to our happy household?"

"Yes, milord. I have just purchased the mare."

"Plans for a stud farm?" he asked, then his eyebrows bunched and he shook his head in negation of the fanciful idea.

"She needed a home," Amity said.

"So it would seem." Max, his face a bland mask, stared at the horse, the abigail and the mangy dog. "Mayhap in your busy schedule you might find time to have a brief chat with me in the library? I shall, of course, await your pleasure," Max said, his tone a stream of ice. "In the meantime perhaps I might be of some service. Lewis?"

The footman leaped to the ground and hurried to the open window of the carriage. "Aye, milord."

"I realize it is much to ask but if you will be so kind as to relieve Miss Fraser of her enchanting prize, I would be most appreciative."

"With pleasure, milord," Lewis said, trying to keep his mouth from twitching into a grin.

"Take, eh..." Max paused, cocking an inquiring eyebrow at Amity.

"Guinevere," Amity snapped, tired of the game.

"A noble name indeed," Max intoned. "Take the Lady Guinevere around to the mews and ask Dobson to do what he can. Now unless there is something more that I can do, I shall be off. Good day, Miss Fraser."

Max raised the carriage window and tapped on the roof with his walking cane. He had one more glimpse of the odd little tableau before the carriage jerked away from the scene. It was just as well since it was only a moment before he could no longer stem the rolling laughter that welled up