Page 46 of A Promising Little Scandal (Sensual Scandals)

Without another word, he turned on his heel.

When he was gone, Calliope wiped away a single tear, and then she walked back into Mary’s room.

“Praise be!”

Calliope was startled awake by the sound of Molly Anning’s exclamation. It had grown dark outside, and with the chill to the sea air, she had closed the window. The lamp she had left burning in an effort to keep her alert to any change in Mary’s condition, but the gentle light hadn’t been enough to combat her weariness in the chair next to her patient’s bed.

Now, she sat up with a start and glanced at the older woman. She had tears in her eyes, and she thought they appeared joyful, rather than despondent. Calliope dared to glance at the bed and was relieved to see that although she still looked weak, Mary was awake. That was enough of a victory for her.

“Mary,” she breathed. “Thank goodness.”

Calliope got to her feet and when she would have departed, Mrs. Anning wouldn’t hear of it. “You have earned a hearty meal for taking such good care of my Mary. I’m sure Joseph would agree.”

Calliope glanced over her shoulder to see Mary’s brother standing in the frame. “We are indebted to you, my lady.”

She immediately waved off the praise. “I was glad to help, but I can’t take all the credit. Lord Blakely was of great assistance.”

Molly nodded her head. “He came by the shop to give us an update and I daresay my knees went weak with relief! You are both angels from the Heavens this day.”

Calliope didn’t feel like anything but a spoiled daughter of a duke, but she inclined her head, nevertheless. She also stayed for supper knowing it would be rude to refuse their offer, even though they likely had little enough to eat as it was.

She stayed with Mary while Mrs. Anning and Joseph made a tempting fare that made Calliope’s stomach grumble. She realized that she hadn’t consumed anything but tea for lunch and only a scone to break her fast.

When supper was announced, Calliope ate the food on her plate rather generously, and even some of the soup that Mrs. Anning had made special for Mary.

Once her hunger was satisfied and they shared a bit of friendly conversation, she gave Molly a friendly hug. “Thank you for your kind hospitality, Mrs. Anning.”

“Bless the good Lord for sending you to Lyme Regis, my lady. Both you and the viscount have been wonderful for our little village.” She paused. “And while it’s not my place to say anything, I can see how much Lord Blakely cares for you.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Calliope returned wryly. “He cares for many of the ladies in London.”

Mrs. Anning shook her head adamantly. “That may have been at one time, but I have a sense about these things. He truly loves you.”

Calliope smiled but didn’t reply to that statement. She gently turned the subject in a different direction.

However, as she made her way back to the hotel with Joseph at her side, another one of Molly’s insistences to ensure she made it back without incident, Calliope’s heart was pounding. No doubt Joseph thought something was amiss since she was so quiet. When they reached the entrance to the hotel, she apologized to him, claiming that weariness was the cause for her abrupt reticence. Thankfully, he seemed to accept the lie without hesitation.

Calliope walked up the stairs to her rooms, but when she reached out to take hold of the knob, she saw that her hands were shaking. Taking a moment to compose herself, she leaned against the wall near the door and closed her eyes, taking deep, steady breaths.

Surely Mrs. Anning was wrong.

Sebastian didn’t love her.

Did he?

She couldn’t accept it even if it were the truth, of course. Some women might claim that reformed rakes made the best husbands, but Calliope didn’t believe that Sebastian was reformed. He was certainly adamant about never taking a wife.

After a time, Calliope was able to steady her pounding pulse to a dull throb, as well as convince herself that, in this instance, Mrs. Anning’s instincts were quite wrong.

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