Rely on three directions from noblewoman (8)
I believe the answer is:
countess
'noblewoman' is the definition.
(I know that countess is a type of noblewoman)
'rely on three directions' is the wordplay.
'three directions' can mean three substitutions for 'direction'.
'rely on' becomes 'count' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'direction' becomes 'E' (E is an example).
'direction' becomes 'S' (S is an example).
'direction' becomes 'S' (S is an example).
'count'+'e'+'s'+'s'='COUNTESS'
'from' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for countess that I've seen before include "Titled lady" , "Earl's wife" , "Wife of an earl" , "Noblewoman" , "Aristocratic lady" .)