If I may be frank, Miss Barrington—and I hope you will not think me too bold—I have found myself utterly bewitched by you.”
Calliope stiffened, doing her best to keep her expression demurely neutral. She could never let on that in the midst of her relief at what must be an overture toward a proposal, there was also a great deal of dread. Her stomach went cold as if a glacier had settled there, and her gaze grew unfocused as she tried to muster a response.
“Again, you flatter me, Mr. Gordon.”
He took a step closer, his face swimming before her bleary eyes as he reached out to take hold of her upper arm. The gesture was subtle, the positioning of their bodies ensuring none of the passersby would notice.
When her vision cleared, she noticed he was staring at her quite intently. Actually, he was leering, his gaze falling somewhere south of her face. Her throat convulsed with disgust as his polite demeanor slipped, salacious ambition flaring in his eyes.
“I would be good to you, Calliope,” he murmured, her Christian name caressed with the forked tongue of a snake. “I am prepared to be very generous, if you understand my meaning. Yes, I can see you do.”
Calliope clenched her teeth around the urge to release the words of castigation resting on her tongue. She could never act in so unseemly a fashion in public. No, too many people would expect that of her. What was worse, it was unlikely anyone would believe that the so-called ‘gentleman’ had propositioned her. She would be the one cast in a bad light.
“Take your hand off me,” she ground out, giving her arm a twist to dislodge his hold. “And I have never given you permission to address me thus.”
Mr. Gordon’s hand dropped to his side, his expression transforming from one of anticipation and lust to one of annoyance. “Come, Miss Barrington. Surely you do not intend to play coy after we’ve spent weeks dancing around the inevitable.”
Calliope curled her hands into fists, disgust churning her stomach. “And here I thought your intention was courtship and that the outcome would be a respectable one.”
He smiled, once again the doting suitor, though the coldness in his eyes kept her on edge. “I have shocked you. I’m aware that despite your advanced age, you are still an innocent. I wasn’t certain, but you’ve proven that with your reaction to my overture. I am prepared to take that into account in coming to the terms of our arrangement.”
She recoiled, her gorge rising sharply. “Mr. Gordon, you have grossly misjudged my character if you think I could ever be coerced into such an arrangement!”
That was enough to wipe the smile off his face, but not nearly enough to stop him from offering further insult. “I understand that you are reticent, but once you’ve had time to think it over, you’ll see that mine is the best offer you are likely to get.”
Calliope flinched as if she’d been struck. Not the first time someone had alluded to her prospects in such degrading terms. Unlike the first instance, Calliope wasn’t overcome with rage or the urge to weep. She did not feel shame, for she had done nothing to lead this man to believe she was anything other than a respectable, unwed woman seeking a husband.
Cold resignation filled her as she realized yet another man had toyed with her and wasted her time. She was weary, she was annoyed, and she had had quite enough.
“Allow me to make myself perfectly clear, Mr. Gordon. I have no interest in such an offer, from you or any other man. Even if you are right that I should not hope for anything better than becoming some man’s chère-amie, I do think I could find a better protector than one such as yourself. Your looks are unremarkable, your skill at conversation sorely lacking, and your valet uses entirely too much of that pomade in your hair. And in case I haven’t made myself clear enough by now, clear off and good riddance.”
After such a set-down there was nothing left to do but spin on her heel and storm off, which she accomplished without tripping over her skirts or looking back. She felt Mr. Gordon’s gaze on her back, but was grateful the man didn’t try to pursue her. Apparently, he wasn’t as stupid as he seemed.
Calliope’s sister approached, concern in her blue eyes and a furrow between her brows.