Callie found herself astoundingly tongue-tied in the man’s presence, despite their acquaintance. To her relief, Diana never had any trouble filling in silences.
“Quite a fine day for a walk, is it not? The weather has been so ghastly lately, I am glad for a reprieve from the rain.”
“Indeed,” Mr. Lewes agreed. “And how does Hastings fare these days, my lady? I have not seen him in ages … since your wedding, I think.”
“Yes, and how bad of you not to come visit us now that we are settled back in London.”
Mr. Lewes chuckled, and the deep, resonant sound sent flutters through Calliope’s belly. The man laughed the way he did most things … beautifully. A dimple appeared in his left cheek, and little smile lines appeared at the corners of eyes like deep, blue lakes.
“Do forgive the oversight. I did not wish to impose upon a newly-wedded couple.”
“Oh, pish!” Diana declared with a wave of her hand. “Your presence at Hastings House is never an imposition. My sister and I would be delighted for you to call upon us, wouldn’t we, Callie dear?”
Calliope started, blinking out of the haze of girlish infatuation that overwhelmed her whenever Mr. Lewes was near. The man had such a dazzling effect on her, a far cry from the way other men made her feel. There wasn’t a salacious bone in Mr. Lewes’s body, and she registered only polite interest as he swiveled those sapphire eyes her way.
“Of course,” she managed with a shaky smile.
“There you have it,” Diana said, saving Calliope from having to form more words. “When can we expect you to call? Oh, do say you’ll come tomorrow!”
Mr. Lewes laughed again, while Calliope gaped at her sister. Diana was always friendly and welcoming, but never quite so pushy. Dread overwhelmed her as she realized what her sister was up to.
Stop it, her eyes screamed as she snared Diana’s gaze.
Her sister simply smirked and shrugged one shoulder as if to say, ‘No, and you cannot make me.’
Calliope seethed, unable to do anything other than stand there and watch her sister manipulate their chance meeting with Mr. Lewes into something else entirely.
“I would be delighted to call tomorrow afternoon, my lady. Miss Barrington, can I look forward to seeing you, as well?”
Calliope nearly choked on air. He’d never directly addressed her unless in greeting or asking for a dance during a ball. Their exchanges were always brief and innocuous, and while one could argue that this was simply more of the same, the air around her felt charged and electric. He was looking at her as if he actually wanted an affirmative answer to his question. Would it disappoint him if she happened to not be at home when he called?
Finding her voice with great effort, Calliope inclined her head. “Yes, Mr. Lewes.”
His smile widened, and he nodded as if satisfied. “Very good. Then I will see you both tomorrow. If you will excuse me, my friends are waiting.”
After a slight bow and tip of his hat, he was off, long graceful strides carrying him down the lane. The two women turned to watch him walk away, and Calliope admired the way his bottle green coat clung to his shoulders.
Shaking her head to clear it of her ridiculous, dream-like thoughts, she swiveled on Diana. “Are you mad? Could you have been more conspicuous?”
Her sister continued steering her along the lane. “Do calm down, dear. I might have been a little assertive, but Mr. Lewes hardly seemed to mind.”
“He was being polite, but you cannot think he has any real interest in me. The man barely knows I’m alive.”
“Nonsense. You’ve been introduced, and his friendship with Hastings puts the two of you in the same social circle.”
“Yes, but he is only ever polite to me in the same way he is to every other woman.”
“That’s only because the man doesn’t know he wants you yet. But, we can fix that.”
“If you are suggesting I throw myself at him like those other empty-headed chits, I will not be held responsible for my actions.”
“Of course not,” Diana declared with a disdainful sniff. “I only mean that sometimes a man just needs a little encouragement. He’ll call on us tomorrow, you will charm him, and then—”
“He will fall to his knees and declare his undying love for me? The man is set upon by every unwed girl and mother of the ton everywhere he goes.”
“Yes, but you are not like those milky, drab girls straight out of the