To Deceive a Duke by Amanda Mccabe

interested to see what we’re doing here.’
    ‘But, Father! He is so…’
    He held up his hand. ‘I know he is a bit more avid in his collecting habits than you would like. Yet he is not so bad as you seem to think, Clio. He is a great scholar, particularly knowledgeable about the Punic Wars, which would be very helpful to us at this site.’
    He leaned down, laying a gentle touch on her arm, much as one would with a skittish horse. ‘He did make many mistakes when he was a young man, that is true. But, my dear, I have heard that he is trying to make a new start. To live up to his title, his family and responsibilities. Look at the work he has done for the Antiquities Society! I feel we should give him a chance.’
    ‘Then of course I will welcome him politely, Father. You and Mother did raise me to have proper manners, no matter what your doubts on that score.’ And they were surrounded by people here. That would definitely limit the trouble she and Averton could get into. ‘Do we have enough food and wine?’
    Her father gave her a relieved smile. Apparently, being so much like her French mother made her unpredictable, too. ‘Lady Rushworth has gone back to Santa Lucia to fetch more provisions, plus some footmen to set up more tables under the pavilion. Silver and china, linens and such.’
    Clio laughed. ‘What, is he bringing an army with him? An entourage of retainers?’
    ‘One never knows with dukes, my dear. Lady Rushworth just thought we should be prepared.’ He paused. ‘But then, Averton has never been like most dukes, has he?’
    No, indeed , Clio thought wryly. Averton had never been like anyone else at all. ‘I will go and help Cory to clear up her paints, then. If I had known we were to have such exalted company, I would have worn my silks and feathers!’
    Her father kissed her cheek. ‘You look beautiful no matter what you wear, Clio. I have the suspicion that his Grace thinks so, as well.’
    Before Clio could even begin to argue with him, Sir Walter strolled quickly away, whistling as he swung his walking stick. Exactly how much did her father know? And how much did he know that she knew?
    Along with her worries about Marco’s appearance, and about what Averton knew that she did not, it made her head spin more than any amount of grappa.
     
    Clio helped Cory pack her paintboxes away in her baskets, hanging up finished watercolours to dry along a line specially hung for that purpose. They were really wonderful, Clio thought, examining a scene that was a reconstruction of the villa as it would have been in its prime. The frescoes on the walls were perfectly detailed, the water in the fountain sparkling. Far better than anything Denon had done in Egypt.
    ‘These are truly wonderful, Cory,’ Clio said.
    ‘They’re all right,’ Cory answered. ‘I’m having some trouble with the perspective in the thermal baths. If I could just work on it some more today, instead of having to pack it all up! Just to give luncheon to a stupid old duke.’
    Clio smothered a laugh at her sister’s petulant irreverence. It would never do to encourage her! Yet it was still quite funny. Stupid duke , indeed.
    Cory was quite serious, though. ‘I wouldn’t think you would care to see him, Clio,’ she said, taking off her paint-splattered apron and smoothing her pink muslin dress. Like Calliope, she had black hair and fair skin that glowed in pink. The colour just made Clio look like a demented strawberry. Not that her grey work frock was any better.
    ‘Why is that?’ Clio asked. ‘I don’t mind Father’s guests.’
    Cory glanced at her from the corner of her eye. ‘Well, after that quarrel you had with the Duke at the British Museum last year…’
    Clio froze. Oh, blast. How could she have forgotten that? Cory had been right there in the Elgin room when Averton had cornered Clio and tried to talk to her about the Lily Thief. When she had nearly stabbed him with her hatpin before Cameron de Vere had