appear unaffected as he came face to face with both Calliope and the Countess of Hastings. They were surrounded by blossoms in vases that littered every surface, filling the room with bursts of color. There had to be at least fifteen bouquets here along with his, and for some reason that annoyed Nick to no end.
“Good morning, Mr. Burke,” the countess chirped with a sunny smile. “The bouquet you sent Callie was so lovely. And look at all the others that arrived just this morning! Apparently, you’ve made my sister the envy of every unwed chit of the ton, and the object of curiosity for all the unmarried men.”
Nick returned her smile, but his gaze was on Calliope. She remained where she sat, watching him as if he were a snake expected to strike any moment. Her back was ramrod straight, and her hands clenched in her lap. Something within him tightened like a coiled spring at the sight of her, dressed in white with the light of the sun making her skin gleam like burnished bronze. Her hair looked darker in such light, her features softened by loose, framing locks that fell from her coiffure.
“Miss Barrington, you are looking lovely this morning. I hope I haven’t come at an inopportune time.”
“Not at all,” Diana declared when Calliope failed to reply. “In fact, Hastings was just about to escort Callie and I on our daily walk. Why don’t you join us? It would be the perfect chance for the two of you to be seen together.”
“Diana!” Calliope admonished, looking horrified at the thought.
Whether she didn’t want his company or didn’t want her sister speaking of their arrangement out loud, Nick wasn’t certain.
“Oh, do relax, Callie. Mr. Burke, you have no need to worry, as this entire scheme was my idea. So you can rely on me to keep it a secret.”
Nick studied Calliope as he absorbed that revelation. She looked utterly embarrassed to have the countess reveal this, as well as a bit annoyed. He was the reason for her ill humor, which would never do. The woman was terrible at hiding her emotions, which meant he couldn’t be seen in public with her just now. He needed to smooth things over first.
“I would be delighted to accompany you on your walk,” he said to the countess. “But first, I wondered if I might have a word with Miss Barrington.”
Diana’s eyes widened and she gave him a meaningful look, before turning to glance at her sister. “Of course. Callie, I’ll just go get our hats and wraps. I’ll return shortly.”
Calliope came to her feet, a pleading gaze leveled at her sister’s retreating back. “Please—”
“I’ll be right back!” Diana declared as if she hadn’t heard, then bustling from the room.
The door was left open a crack, but they were, for all intents and purposes, alone. It wasn’t a position he’d ever wanted to find himself in with an unmarried woman, but this arrangement wasn’t going to work if he and Calliope couldn’t reach some sort of understanding.
Only, just now he was having a devil of a time remembering how he’d intended to approach this. She continued to avoid looking at him, her jaw clenched and her posture defensive.
Nick cleared his throat and fumbled for words. “I see last night was a smashing success. Are any of these bouquets from Lewes?”
She heaved a labored sigh, as if responding to him proved to be a herculean task. “That one, there.”
He noticed a colorful arrangement that dwarfed all the ones around it. A clear sign that their plan was already working.
He tried to keep his tone light. “It would seem he has taken notice of your new suitor … as has half the ton, it seems.”
“Who would have predicted it?” she snapped. Her eyes blazed like hot coals, and Nick was surprised he didn’t disintegrate on the spot. “Though, perhaps I ought to exercise caution near so many flowers. Wouldn’t want them to freeze to death.”
Nick winced. “Miss Barrington, I understand—”
“No,” she interjected, taking a step toward him with her hands balled into fists at her sides. “You don’t understand, but somehow, after only a few meetings you’ve decided you know all about me. You’ve deduced the reasons for my trouble finding a husband, and of course the fault lies with me. Congratulations on being blessed with such keen powers of observation!”
“You’re right.”
She paused with her lips parted. It seemed she had been prepared to go on castigating him, but he’d taken the wind