Page 61 of A Promising Little Scandal (Sensual Scandals)

Chapter Twenty-One

Calliope turned one way and then the other, inspecting every angle that she could. “I must look impeccable this evening if I am to ensnare a husband,” she told her ladies’ maid. “Not a single wrinkle in my gown.”

Emma stood beside the cheval mirror and dared to roll her eyes. “I’ve never known you to be vain before, my lady.”

Calliope gave her a hard stare. “That’s because any other night hasn’t been as important as this one. This ball shall ensure my future.”

“I thought your future was with Lord Blakely?” her maid pointed out.

She stilled. “I told you never to speak that name in this house again. Or, at least, not within my hearing.” She stalked over to her dressing table and sat down in front of it, ensuring that her pearl earrings and necklace was in place. Of course, she had chosen the perfect gown to complement the pale sheen of the gems, a white satin gown with a silver lace overlay. She generally didn’t like to wear such simple colors, feeling that they were better served for the younger debutantes, but tonight she wanted to ensure that she portrayed purity, even if she had already offered up her most valuable attribute to a scoundrel like Lord Blakely.

Emma sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, my lady. It’s not easy to mend a heart that has been broken.”

Calliope pinched her cheeks to give them a little added color. Satisfied with her final appearance, she stood up and grabbed her reticule. “This heart shall be weaved back together in record time if all goes well tonight.”

Her maid’s expression was grim. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider, my lady? I don’t want you to regret anything because you’re upset over Lord B—” She quickly pressed her lips together.

She walked over to Emma and put a hand on her shoulder. “I know what I’m doing. My future has never been clearer than it is right now.”

Emma nodded. “Very well.”

With a bright smile, Calliope left the room.

However, as soon as she turned away from her maid, the brittle exterior fell apart. It was all she could do to pretend an outward nonchalance when her heart was bleeding on the inside.

She would never forgive Sebastian for this.

Taking a moment to compose herself, she pasted on that same, false bravado and went down the stairs to meet Isadora, who was patiently waiting for her. Isadora was wearing a light peach satin gown and combined with her dark brown hair and diamonds gracing her neck and ears, she was the picture of elegance. Calliope didn’t understand how her elder sister always seemed to appear so resplendent and calm when Calliope was always feeling frazzled.

Isadora clasped her gloved hands before her and looked at her steadily. “Are you sure you still want to go through with this?” she asked gently.

Calliope lifted her chin. “I think we both knew that I wouldn’t have made it on my own, as much as I liked to imagine that I could. I don’t have the business acumen that you do. I shall leave you to succeed where the rest of us have failed.”

Isadora lifted a slender brow. “I’m not sure that I would consider the happiness Minty and Livy have found as a failure. It is merely an alternate path to the original course we’d set for ourselves.”

“Exactly,” Calliope concurred. “And my path is altogether different. Rather than allowing love to prompt me into marriage, it shall be common sense.” She tapped the side of her head. “No more childish fantasies. I shall choose the man best suited for my future.”

Isadora sighed. “You make it sound as though you are preparing to purchase a horse at auction.”

Calliope shrugged. “I daresay the man I choose must have good teeth and a strong backside…”

Isadora was already walking out the door.

Calliope stepped out of the carriage in front of the Carrick townhouse with determination writ in every fiber of her being. She couldn’t wait to get started interviewing all the possible candidates to see which would be the best fit as her future husband. Her list was secured in her reticule, although she had most of the names memorized by heart. They had all showered her with attention during the Little Season and was the reason the parlor had been filled to the brim with flowers and prose. Since the Carrick ball was one of the most attended event of the Season, she was confident that most, if not all, of the men on her list would be here.

She prayed that she didn’t see Lord Blakely, but if so, she vowed that she would be cool and polite, but nothing further than that. She would treat him just as she had before their interlude in Lyme Regis, where she had given him far more than she’d ever planned to allow.

Shoving any further thoughts of him out of her mind, she stood in the receiving line until she and Isa finally made their way to greet their host and hostess. Once they were announced, Calliope set out on the hunt, while Isadora drifted off to another section of the room.

Calliope knew her sister wasn’t pleased with her at the moment, feeling as though she was being too hasty, but there was no time to waste—especially if it turned out she was enceinte.

She swallowed hard. Although the viscount had used her quite ill, betraying her trust with Lady Abaline, if she married another and found out she was with child, she would have to live with the knowledge that the baby was not her husband’s heir. It would be a disservice to both Sebastian and her husband, but it would be a secret she would have to live with for the rest of her days. She certainly didn’t want to start her marriage by making her spouse a cuckold. But she had to safeguard her family’s good name too.

Striding about the room, Calliope nodded and smiled as she moved about the perimeter of the dance floor, where several couples were in the midst of a country dance. She had yet to see Sebastian, but by the way her skin prickled, she had the feeling that he was lurking about somewhere.

Nevertheless, she continued her slow perusal until she spied one of the men on her list. While he wasn’t at the top, Lord Dolton was a decent gentleman. At least, according to what Emma had been able to deduce. She had been a veritable Godsend for information once Calliope had given her the list of prospects. She had quickly gone out and spread the word among her fellow servants and reported back with viable information. There had been ten gentlemen to begin with, but when two had suffered bad reports, she had immediately crossed them off.

Calliope adopted her most flirtatious expression and was about to approach Lord Dolton when he glanced over and spied her. His face instantly turned a bit green, and his eyes darted about until he quickly approached one of the wallflowers standing nearby. With a bow, he engaged her for a dance and swept her away while Calliope stood along the side and gaped at the entire scene.

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