his tardiness as well as his goading. Now that he had arrived, he would make her dangle a bit before coming to her. She realized it was the smart thing to do if they wanted to appear authentic, but just now it felt as if he did this simply because he could—and if ever a man had struck her as one who did things only because he was able, it was Dominick Burke.
Mr. Lewes returned with a cup of punch for her, and his reappearance proved a welcome distraction.
“Here you are,” he murmured, laying the cup in her palms and then lingering at her side with his hands folded behind his back. “Are Hastings and the countess here tonight?”
“Yes. Diana is dancing, and Hastings is … oh, he’s coming this way.”
Calliope experienced another surge of nervous excitement as her brother-in-law weaved his way through the crowd in their direction. Dominick Burke was on his heels, his heavy-lidded eyes fixed on Calliope and that teasing smirk still curving his lips. She clenched tighter to her fan and forced a smile as they drew near.
“Sister, Mr. Lewes, I had hoped to introduce you to an old acquaintance of mine. He hardly ever attends these affairs, so I thought it best to take advantage of the occasion. May I present, Mr. Dominick Burke … Mr. Burke, my sister-in-law, Miss Calliope Barrington, and my old friend, The Hounourable Mr. Martin Lewes.”
“Mr. Lewes, we have never been introduced, but your younger brother and I became acquainted during our Eton days.”
Mr. Lewes offered a genial smile. “Of course. I seem to remember some rather amusing stories concerning toads and chamber pots.”
Mr. Burke laughed, and drew the attention of every woman within hearing distance. Heads swiveled and eyes went wide at the sound—rich and warm and far too boisterous for a ballroom. The man didn’t seem to notice or care about all the attention.
“Ah yes, though I do hope the stories don’t make me sound too much the little scamp. I can assure you, I’ve come a long way since those days.”
Then, he was looking at her, his smile disappearing and his expression becoming one that put a flush in her cheeks.
“Miss Barrington, I haven’t yet had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, but I am delighted to do so now. I hope you won’t think me too impertinent for saying that such a shade of yellow is quite becoming on you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Burke.”
“I do hope you will honor me with a dance. Though I must warn you, it has been some time since I led a lady on the dance floor. I hope you will forgive me if I am a less than graceful partner.”
Calliope fought not to squirm under the intensity of his stare, finding it as unsettling as she had before. She did not usually have such a difficult time remaining composed, but told herself it must be the nature of their scheme. She was anxious for it to work, and to keep anyone else from knowing what they were up to.
“I’ve promised the next dance to Mr. Lewes, but I will save the one after that for you.”
Nick inclined his head in a gracious gesture. “I will await with bated breath.”
The current dance ended at that moment, and Mr. Lewes offered Calliope his arm.
“Shall we?”
Hastings took her empty cup, leaving her free to join her partner on the dance floor. The next dance was a quadrille, which put her in Mr. Lewes’s company for a quarter of an hour. He was as charming and affable as always, engaging her in light conversation whenever the dance brought them close. Tonight, she could swear there was a marked difference in the weight of his perusal. She must be imagining it, when their conversation remained as innocuous as ever. However, as the dance ended and he took her hand to lead her back toward Hastings and Mr. Burke—who stood awaiting his turn with her—he lowered his head and stoked hope in her with nothing more than a handful of words.
“Mr. Burke is right, you know. The color yellow was never so alluring as it is just now.”
Calliope had only been able to stare up at him and murmur a breathless ‘thank you’, before he was bowing to her with that belly-quivering smile. Then, her hand was in Mr. Burke’s, and he led her away from the one thing she wanted most in the world.
Her new partner offered her one hand, then slid the other around