she pushed it aside and chose to hold fast to her happiness. It wasn’t as if Martin hadn’t been led to believe he had competition. What did it matter that Dominick’s attentions hadn’t been genuine from the start? Martin was a fine man, and he would find a woman who could care for him the way she did Dominick.
After their return from Box Hill, Calliope returned to Ekta, submitting to the ministrations of the maid to prepare her for dinner. She left Ekta with instructions to find her bed whenever she was ready. She didn’t want Ekta waiting up for her or asking about her arranged meeting with Dominick. If she needed help unfastening her gown, she could always enlist Diana.
Steps light, she left her bedroom to make her way downstairs. A pair of servants breezed past her, seemingly oblivious to her presence. They were in a hurry, the male servant shaking his head as he held up a waistcoat for his companion’s inspection.
“I don’t know what else the man expects of me,” he grumbled, his voice echoing back to Calliope as she paused and turned to watch them go. “His clothes are in such a shabby state, yet he expects me to work my fingers to the bone making them look brand new. I am not capable of miracles.”
Curiosity pricked her as she realized the man was a valet—one who was put out with his master.
The other servant made a sound of disapproval, but he slapped the valet on the back. “You need only put up with it a few more months, at least. If he’s successful with Barrington’s daughter, he’ll be able to afford an entire new wardrobe.”
“I wish he’d hurry things along. He risks losing that fortune of hers to Mr. Burke, the bounder. Did you know it’s rumored to be as much as …”
Calliope leaned against the wall, staring unseeingly after the servants as they disappeared around the corner. She never did hear what her fortune was rumored to be, but it didn’t matter. That Martin’s valet was privy to the knowledge left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she wondered just how he’d come by that knowledge. Perhaps he’d merely been guessing, knowing as everyone did that her father had returned from India a wealthy man before inheriting even more riches along with his title.
Pressing a hand to her belly, she told herself she didn’t care. She had made her choice. Still, it annoyed her to know he had been motivated, at least in part, by her money.
She pushed away from the wall, deciding to be glad she had overheard the servants’ conversation. Now, she could move forward with Dominick without the nagging guilt that she had jilted a man who actually cared about her. London was filled with heiresses and Martin could have his pick of them.
Martin had already arrived in the drawing room, though Dominick had not. Her father was also present, along with Hastings and Diana. Ignoring Martin’s genial smile, she accepted a cordial from a passing footman and approached her sister.
Her father and brother-in-law gave her a quizzical glance as she mumbled a greeting at them before taking her sister by the arm and steering her to a quiet corner of the room.
“Callie, what on Earth?”
“Did you tell Mr. Lewes the amount of my inheritance?”
Diana furrowed her brow. “No, of course not! Why would you think I had?”
“Someone has told him. I overheard his valet speaking of how shabby his clothes are and how desperately he needs to wed me for my fortune. If not you, then who? Very few people know the actual amount.”
Diana’s lips thinned and she gave her husband an exasperated look. “Hastings. He’s the only person close enough to Lewes to even think of mentioning it. Oh, I’m so sorry, dear.”
Calliope’s shoulders sagged. “Don’t be cross with him. I suppose he thought himself being helpful. We all know how desperate I have been to snare a husband, and I suppose he thought my wealth would be enough to tempt Mr. Lewes.”
“Still, I intend to have a word with him about this. It is a good thing you’ve chosen Mr. Burke, I say. The man might need money, but he was nothing but honest about his circumstances. Meanwhile, Mr. Lewes has been jaunting about London in a new phaeton—though who knows how he was able to afford it?”
Calliope patted her sister’s shoulder, amused that Diana was more upset about this turn of events than she was. “It