first night, she had already grown sick of the woman and her blatant flirtations—especially toward Dominick. Lady Thrush was not discreet, going out of her way to insinuate herself at his side every chance she got. The harpy had all but shoved Calliope out of the way to claim him as a dinner partner, upsetting the arrangements with no care for propriety. After the meal she’d declared quite loudly that she’d saved a place for him on the loveseat beside her in the drawing room.
Calliope had barely survived the evening with her dignity intact, beset with the urge to rip the woman’s hair out by the roots. Of course, this development should not bother Calliope in the least. In fact, she would be glad for him to set his sights on some other woman, one who clearly craved his attention.
And Martin was as charming as ever. He took advantage of Lady Thorpe’s upending of the seating to escort her to dinner. He made certain she had a sherry in hand once the men had come back into the company of the women after dinner, and generally ensuring she knew he intended to be an attentive husband.
Unfortunately, his efforts only annoyed her further, yet another reaction she could hardly make sense of.
“Lady Thrush is certainly … friendly,” Diana had whispered to Calliope as they’d watched the lady in question giggle and swat Dominick’s arm with her fan.
“She’s absolutely shameless,” Calliope hissed. “Why did Father even invite her? She’s no friend of mine or yours.”
“The aunts are friends with her mother, I think. Now that she’s out of mourning, the hope is that she can now begin the search for a new husband. Though, I doubt that’s what she wants with Mr. Burke.”
Oh, she knew exactly what the little strumpet wanted, and it put her teeth on edge.
Calliope glanced over to find her sister watching her in the most puzzling fashion.
“Oh, my God. I wasn’t certain, but you just confirmed it. You are jealous.”
“I am not!” Calliope protested, then winced when several pairs of eyes swiveled toward them. Clearing her throat, she took a sip of sherry and lowered her voice. “Don’t be ridiculous. I am only annoyed because he is being paid to give his attention to me.”
They sat far enough in the corner of the room that she could speak of the matter without worry. Martin had become engrossed in conversation with her father, for he had finally given up trying to coax Calliope out of her foul mood.
“To be fair, she isn’t giving him much of a chance to do his job,” Diana replied. “She sank her claws into him the moment he arrived and hasn’t let up. I daresay he looks rather uncomfortable with all the attention.”
Calliope dared a glance in their direction, only to find that Diana was right. Dominick seemed to be trying to pull away from Lady Thrush, who was holding him verbally hostage. He looked bored to tears.
“It should not matter, anyway,” Diana added lightly. “As you suspect Mr. Lewes will earn father’s approval and propose to you before the house party is over.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she snapped, finishing off the rest of her sherry with one swallow. “I do not care what Dominick does. In fact, I intend to tell him our arrangement is over at the first opportunity.”
Diana touched her hand, and this time when their gazes met, Calliope saw only understanding and empathy in her sister’s eyes.
“Oh, Callie.”
The weight of those words nearly put a crack in her hardened exterior, and Calliope’s eyes began to sting.
“Diana, please. I can’t …”
Diana gave her fingers a squeeze and nodded. “I understand. We can speak of it more in private, just know … I love you and I want you to be happy. Perhaps Mr. Lewes isn’t what you want after all. I need you to understand it’s all right if that is the case.”
“That’s just it. It cannot be Dominick. There are so many reasons—”
Her words choked off when Diana’s hand tightened painfully around hers, and Calliope realized why when she glanced up. Dominick stood before them, the firelight adding a fiery gleam to his hair and darkening his eyes.
“Begging your pardon, Lady Hastings,” he said, though his gaze never strayed from Calliope. “I was hoping I might have a word with Miss Barrington.”
Diana gave Calliope a questioning look, which she answered with an affirmative nod. There could be no harm in a conversation when the room was filled with other people.