contender for her hand. She would be devastated for him to ever know the truth, so she must allow him to think she was seriously considering the man for marriage.
“Yes, well, that might be Father’s intention, but I can see what Diana is up to. She is hoping Dominick’s presence at the party will push Martin to finally propose. Father’s estate in Surrey isn’t as large as his other, so the guests will number few. Such a small gathering will force us all in close proximity. Martin will hardly be able to ignore Dominick’s efforts.”
Ekta turned slowly to face her, a pair of slippers gripped in one hand and Calliope’s dressing gown hung over the opposite arm. “You refer to both of these men by their Christian names.”
It wasn’t a question, but Calliope could hear the accusation in the maid’s voice. She avoided Ekta’s gaze and fussed needlessly with her hair in the mirror.
“Martin and I are friends, and we are well on our way toward a betrothal. It is all right for us to use our first names when no one else is about.”
“And this man who is also a whore? You refer to him as Dominick?”
Calliope’s face burned. “It is nothing.”
“That isn’t what I’ve overheard when you speak to Diana of this man. You talk about him as if you—”
“Ekta, please!” she said sharply, unable to listen to another word. “It is my hope that by end of the fortnight, Martin will have made his offer and this will all be over. Now … if you would please ensure my things are prepared for the journey to Surrey …”
Ekta raised one black eyebrow and pursed her lips. “I hope you know what you are doing, girl. You are not my little Anni anymore, and I must accept that. But, I will be here when this is all over—whether it ends with a wedding or a broken heart.”
With that, the maid went into the adjoining dressing room where Calliope’s empty trunk awaited. Ekta’s words seemed a harbinger of doom, but she pushed them aside with grim determination. Her plan was working, and Dominick Burke was nothing more than a small complication—one that she did not intend to let distract her any longer.
She left her bedchamber, only to be met by a servant come to inform her that she had a visitor. Warring feelings of relief and disappointment overwhelmed her when she entered the drawing room to see it was Martin who had come to call, not Dominick.
Traitor, her mind railed as she forced a smile for her visitor.
“Martin,” she choked out, trying to keep the confusion and conflict out of her eyes. “What a lovely surprise.”
Extending both hands to her, he returned her smile, though his perusal of her was both guarded and wary. “Calliope. You are looking quite lovely this afternoon, but of course, you always do.”
His compliment fell on her with none of the effect of the words of a certain courtesan, which only made her more cross with herself as well as Dominick. The man had ruined her without ever actually making love to her, filling her mind with thoughts no unwed lady ought to ponder. Thoughts that did not concern the wonderful man standing before her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, allowing him to take her hands and inspect her from head to toe. “I am glad you are here, actually. An invitation will come to you in a matter of a few days, but now I can invite you in person myself. My father is hosting a small house party at his home in Surrey, and I do hope you will attend.”
He gave her hands a tug to urge her close, paying no mind to the open door or the specter of nearby servants. Shock rippled through her at his sudden familiarity as well as his disregard for propriety. It was an expected change; one she had been anticipating for weeks. Only now, she couldn’t help comparing the touch of his naked hands against hers to that of Dominick. It was bad of her to think Martin’s hands too soft, lacking the strength and commanding allure of her courtesan’s. It was even more wrong of her to wish he stood a few inches taller, that his hair wasn’t such a bright shade of blond, or that his eyes were the color of spring leaves instead of a morning sky.
No, no, no. You cannot think that way. This is happening just the way you wanted … do