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Preston shook his head with a low grumble. “You were lost? What are you talking about?”

She laid the cards on the table and shrugged one shoulder. “I was. And I was looking for directions.”

Preston scoffed. “Who gets lost and goes to the Admiralty for directions?”

Calliope shrugged and fingered the cards lying on the table. “Whyever not? Who else would help out a lady than the officers?”

“Do you think I believe you?”

“Preston, please, stop growling or you will turn into a wolf.”

Grandmama snickered.

Preston let out a long puff of air. Oh, he was livid, his dark eyes glistening like ripe cherries.

“Please, sister, this is not a sleuth novel. This is serious. I went to the Admiralty, too, to ask for the records of ship departures, so you do not have to lie about your reason for going there.”

Calliope tensed, suddenly feeling quite silly. “Did you find out anything?”

“No. They wouldn’t allow me to look at the records. But if I wasn’t successful, neither would you be. I will ask for an introduction to Admiral Langden himself through my connections. So you shouldn’t be worried about any of it at all. You should be going to balls and meeting other eligible bachelors, if the Marquess of Huntingham isn’t to your liking.”

Calliope was seething inside. “Balls? Meeting bachelors? You know me better than that, Preston.”

“Sister,” Preston said tightly, “I don’t think there’s a man on earth who’s worthy of the tip of your little finger, but it is my duty to see to your future and your safety. Until now, your reputation has been pristine, and your fortune, as well as our family’s standing, make you a desirable bride. You should be able to marry well.”

Calliope felt so helpless. Was she not allowed to make decisions about her own life? She stared at Grandmama. “And what do you have to say about this?”

Grandmama sighed. “Dearest, I moved into Sumhall to make sure your reputation remained unblemished, but it appears as if you have sealed your own fate by going to the Admiralty unchaperoned. Perhaps seeing another man would have been fine, but Kelford…”

Preston nodded. “Anything…anyone he touches, he ruins.”

Calliope’s stomach was twisting, bile rising. “I don’t care about my reputation. I truly don’t want to marry. A chance to find happiness like both you and Richard is very small. I’m not interested in anyone—especially not in Huntingham—and only wish to follow my own course.”

Grandmama nodded. “Following your own course is certainly better than being married to the wrong man. Thanks to your generous, deceased papa and Preston, you have an income to enjoy and can pursue your own ambitions. You don’t just want to sit back and do nothing like most ladies of the ton.”

Grandmama was certainly correct about that. And Calliope saw inspiring examples of women creating their own destinies. Jane, her new sister-in-law, ran a school and gave lessons. Penelope was learning from great artists and planned to sell her own paintings. Calliope’s mama had always taught her to be independent and to think for herself. And she knew exactly what she wanted.

“I want to start my own sleuth agency,” Calliope said.

She met Preston’s dark gaze with a challenge. Slowly, he shook his head. “I thought you’d grow out of those childish notions.”

“I’m quite sincere. It makes sense, really. The Bow Street Runners don’t have enough people to investigate crimes. Uncovering the truth and defending oneself in court falls to the victims or the accused and their solicitors if they can afford them. They are often unqualified and don’t have time and resources. It’s quite a clever business idea, actually. There’s a need among the population and few with the skills or inclination to undertake the task.”

Grandmama pursed her lips, hiding a smile. “You can’t argue with that, Preston. Your own wife is a woman of independent ambitions, and you’re the first one to support her. Jane is the same, and Richard never forbade her to run her school. He’s providing funds to assist her.”

“Exactly,” said Calliope. “So why do you support Penelope and Jane and yet restrict me from pursuing my business idea?”

Preston ground his teeth. “For a simple reason, sister. Neither Penelope nor Jane intends to run after dangerous men who steal, kidnap, and, perhaps, even murder. Not to mention the damage to your reputation, which is exactly what happened two days ago. Pick another occupation, and I’ll be the first one to cheer you on.”

Calliope ignored his tired argument about her reputation. “It does not necessarily have to be dangerous. As a woman, I’ll be less suspicious because no one expects a woman to be an investigator. I’ll be careful. I’ll hire other investigators, too. I’ll do things cleverly rather than with force. Besides, Spencer and Richard have taught me boxing and fencing in case it comes to that.”

Grandmama scoffed. “She’d do it better than most men.”

Just as Preston opened his mouth, no doubt to contradict her, the door opened and their butler, Teanby, appeared. “The Duke of Kelford has come to call.”

Sweet tickles ran through Calliope’s body, and for a few moments she couldn’t breathe. Preston blinked at Teanby as if stunned.

Grandmama gave out a chuckle and looked at Calliope. “Speaking of dangerous men and ruined reputations…”