Sinclair. Indeed, it hardly seemed that admitting what she had to Callie yesterday had been worth the risk for her. The other woman’s reluctance had been almost palpable. It was that hesitation, more than anything else, which suggested she told the truth.
“Do you believe he is innocent, Callie?”
Jo’s question was the very same one which had been churning endlessly in her own mind since the day before.
“I do not want to,” she admitted. “Because if he is, it means I ruined him for no reason. It means I was wrong, and that I must beg his forgiveness. That I must somehow make amends for what I have done.”
“Marrying him would certainly make amends,” Jo observed grimly. “Do not forget the man abducted you, spirited you away from London, and refused to return you to your home until you agreed to become his wife. To say nothing of his reputation. There is a reason why he is known as Sin.”
Jo shuddered.
A frisson went down Callie’s spine. Again, she thought of his kiss. His touch.
She swallowed hard. “What would you do, Jo, if you were me? No matter what I choose, I am doomed. I cannot bear for this to become Benny’s problem. He and Isabella have been through so much. And it is possible that I owe Lord Sinclair.”
“You have to do whatever you feel is right, deep in your heart.” Jo sighed. “Oh, Callie. I do wish you were not in such a dreadful position. I beg of you, contact your brother. Ask for his help.”
Callie was not going to make her problem Benny’s problem. She loved him far too much for that.
“I have already promised myself to the earl,” she said, resolute. “I must be a woman of my word.”
And hope for the best.
Young intruded upon their tête-à-tête suddenly then, his expression pained as he appeared at the threshold of the orangery, visible at the end of the row of persimmon and lemon trees. “I beg your pardon for the intrusion, Lady Calliope. However, the Earl of Sinclair has arrived. I did tell him you were not at home, but he refuses to leave.”
He was here.
The air fled her lungs.
“Shall I speak to him for you?” Jo whispered. “I would be more than happy to box his ears. Or punch him in the nose.”
Her friend’s staunch support won a reluctant smile from Callie. “No, dearest. But I do thank you for always championing me. I am afraid this particular monster is one I must slay on my own.” To the butler, she added in a louder voice, “See him to the private library, if you please, Young, and ask him to await me there.”
Sin was not a patient man.
Which was why being told his betrothed was not at home left him infuriated. When the supercilious butler finally returned, wearing a pained expression of dislike, and escorted him to a small library to await Lady Calliope, he had gritted his teeth with so much force his jaw ached. Now, having paced the length of the chamber at least two dozen times, his strides eating up the luxurious carpets, he was more than annoyed.
He was irritated.
Infuriated.
Angrier than a hive of bees which had just been prodded with an unforgiving stick.
He reached into his waistcoat and extracted his pocket watch to consult the time yet again. She had kept him waiting for half a bloody hour already. How much longer would she force him to stand here like a vassal awaiting his queen?
Devil take Lady Calliope Manning. She was an asp dressed in silken skirts. And occasionally silken divided skirts, as she had informed him.
“Trousers,” he muttered to himself, nettled that his own mind even seemed to be kowtowing to the vexing creature.
The reason for his call was simple. He was not convinced he had allayed Lady Calliope’s fears with their visit to Tilly the previous day. And whilst he hardly desired to play the role of dutiful swain and see her once more, it was necessary.
But the cursed woman had yet to materialize.
Biting off a curse, he stalked toward the closed library door, incensed and determined to find her hiding place and haul her from it. By God, she would cease playing games with him. Yesterday, she had made him cool his heels for half an hour. Today, she was up to more of the same nonsense.
No more, he vowed.
The library door opened when he was within three strides of reaching it. Lady Calliope hovered on the threshold, ridiculously fetching in