Page 50 of A Promising Little Scandal (Sensual Scandals)

Chapter Eighteen

A fortnight passed, and although each day Calliope forced herself to get up with the dawn to go down by the cliffs to comb the beach for new discoveries, her anticipation for the hunt wasn’t as thrilling as it had been when she’d first arrived. She would find various fossils and interesting rocks as she strolled along, but for the most part, her thoughts were filled with images of Sebastian. She would hear his voice calling her name on the breeze and see his towering figure walking toward her along the strand.

But none of it was true.

It was all an illusion, a trick her mind was playing on her because even if her conscience didn’t see it, her brain told her she was a fool.

She should have stopped Sebastian from leaving her that day. She should have run after him and begged him to—

But that was where the fantasy ended, because how much further could it go? Even if Calliope dared to change her mind to follow in Minty and Livy’s footsteps, he had been just as adamant in his reluctance to wed.

The only thing that had made it bearable for her to stay focused on her quest was Mary’s recovery. By mid-week she had felt strong enough to venture out-of-doors and the look of bliss she’d worn as she’d turned her face toward the sea had been worth all of Calliope’s inner anguish.

“I have missed the spray with its hint of salt.” Mary sighed and turned to her with a sheepish grin. “No doubt that sounds terribly poetic.”

“But lovely all the same,” Calliope said firmly. “I’m just glad to see you up and about and looking the picture of health once more.”

“As am I.” Mary lifted a brow. “Let’s get to work, shall we?”

Calliope was more than happy to agree.

With Mary’s guidance, they had managed to find several more fossils, as opposed to what Calliope had found on her own. Then again, she was inclined to agree with Joseph, in that Mary had a particular eye when it came to finding something fascinating. And for a young woman that had very little prospects, that was a rare talent indeed.

Calliope abruptly stopped.

All this time she’d been determined to make a name for herself, to show the world that she could be an independent woman, and yet, Mary had already accomplished what Calliope had set out to do. While Mary was still struggling to get recognition in London, her name was certainly well known in every scientific and scholarly circle because of the Ichthyosaurus skeleton she had uncovered. And here Calliope was, trying to take even that much recognition away from her. The woman who had been raised as the daughter of a duke had traveled all this way with every advantage possible, and yet, she would steal what little success this poor, village girl could obtain.

“I have to go.”

Mary glanced over curiously at her. She’d been bent over looking at a rock in the sand. Of course, that was all that Calliope ever saw, and the reason she hadn’t been as prosperous. To Mary, every object had the possibility of being a rare vertebra, or something equally enthralling.

“My lady?”

Calliope laughed, the feeling of being free washing over her like high tide. “I’ve embarked on a futile quest by coming here, Mary. And I realize now that your mother was absolutely right.”

Mary looked entirely perplexed, so Calliope attempted to explain. “Molly told me that sometimes what we want isn’t what we want at all. And this—” She waved her hand to indicate the area around them. “Isn’t what I truly want. I thought it was at one time, but I don’t possess the passion, nor the expertise that you do. I’ve been fooling myself into believing that I could find happiness here, when it isn’t correct. I’ve been miserable since the viscount left. I shouldn’t have let him go without telling him how I feel about him.”

Mary’s lips twitched. “And how do you feel?”

Calliope blinked. “I think I love him.” She laughed and threw her arms out wide. “I love Sebastian, and I don’t care who hears me!”

This time it was Mary who laughed. She offered a single applause. “I suppose you will be returning to London then.”

“In all due haste,” Calliope said. “And if we marry, I’ll make sure you and your mother and brother all receive an invitation!”

Sebastian was sitting in his study at the Blakely townhouse in Grosvenor Square, haphazardly spinning a guinea on the top of his desk, dressed casually in a partly open shirt and trousers when the butler intruded on his solitude. “The marquess is here to see you.”

“Tell him I’m out,” Sebastian said with a scowl, but already he could hear the distinct thumping of a cane crossing the hardwood floors.

“You can’t ignore me forever, boy.” His grandfather appeared in the frame and Sebastian had to snort, because the butler looked just as frazzled as he felt. Nevertheless, Sebastian waved the servant away.

The marquess looked surprisingly spry that afternoon. His wiry gray hair had been combed neatly and he was dressed in the height of fashion, when he normally wore clothes a few years out of date. Not because he didn’t have the funds to purchase new ones, but because he didn’t care to spend money on anything.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair and lifted a lazy brow as he looked his opponent up and down. “What’s the special occasion?”

He limped over to the chair opposite the desk and sat down heavily. With a firm expression on his face, Sebastian knew he wasn’t going to like whatever came out of his mouth next. “We are going to Vauxhall tonight.”

He sighed. “No.”

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