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Prologue
Lady Calliope Andrews was on a mission, and she refused to accept defeat. She would attend the Christmastide house party at the Duke of Lindsey’s estate, and her brotherwouldagree. Shehadto go. She justhadto, because if she didn’t, then she might not be a social success. Calliope intended to find a husband in her first season—and one that would be a superior match. She would be the talk of the ton, andnotin a scandalous way. She adored her brother, but she did not appreciate the reputation he had cultivated over the years. It would be a deterrent in society. A man had far more freedom than women, and as his little sister they would be watching her to see if she ha similar tendencies.
“Daniel?” Calliope said as she entered her brother’s study. She was a little apprehensive because he could be cross when interrupted. She nibbled on her bottom lip as she took a tentative step toward his desk and silently prayed he wouldn’t be difficult.
“Yes, Calliope?” Daniel lifted his gaze to meet hers. He rubbed his temples a little absentmindedly. Drat.His head must ache. She would have to be quick and leave. She hated how hard he worked. Her brother didn’t seem happy to her, and she needed him to be in an amiable mood.
She walked to the front of his desk and stood there with her hands behind her back, trying her best not to fidget under is scrutinizing gaze. She was pretty sure she knew what he saw when he looked at her. Daniel didn’t want to think of her as a grown woman and often treated her as if she were still nothing more than his kid sister. But she was no longer that little girl and he had to accept that. Callie had golden blonde curls that were currently pinned on top of her head in a plait and twisted into a chignon. Her day dress was a cornflower blue that matched her eyes. She wanted a husband, and a life that wasn’t lived inside her childhood home. If she had any hope of seeing that come to fruition she had to make some headway with her brother.
“About the invitation to the Christmastide...”
“No,” he interrupted her. His tone was firm and harsh. That was not a good sign. She barely held back a sigh of irritation. He held her gaze and told her, “We are not going.”
“Please,” Calliope said in a pleading tone. “It’ll help me. In a few months I’ll have my come out and this will give me a chance to learn some of the social skills I’ll need. These are people you socialize with regularly, isn’t it? Why don’t you want to go?” She didn’t understand her brother’s reluctance to socialize. Did he really think some young miss would somehow force him to marry? Calliope wished he would consider find a wife. He’d probably be less irritable if he did.
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. His pain must have worsened. She bit her lip pensively as she waited for him to answer. “I hate Christmastide,” he reminded her.
She pouted. Calliope hated that she had to act like a spoiled child to make him listen to her. “Then be grumpy the entire time. It is what you do every year, anyway.” Calliope placed her palms on his desk and met his gaze. “I want my season to be successful. Please don’t be difficult. I need your help if I am to have a successful debut.”
Calliope would be eight and ten in a month, and her first season would be soon. The Christmastide party was informal, and she had been invited along with him. He had to see how it would be beneficial for her. She could become more acquainted with the Duchess of Lindsey, the hostess of the event, and that connection would be nearly guarantee Callie’s success.
He tilted his head to the side giving the appearance he was deliberating about what she’d said. He sighed. “I’ll consider it,” he told her.
She rolled her eyes. “Consider fast. We will have to depart London soon if we’re going to travel to the Duke of Lindsey’s home in the country.” Callie had already instructed her maid to pack hoping she would be able to convince her brother of the wisdom of attending the house party. Daniel didn’t need to know that part though.
“Is that so?” He fought a smile. “I hadn’t realized that. If you need an answer now, I believe I already gave you one.” He could be such an arse sometimes…
She held back the retort she was about to spit back at him, but couldn’t hold in the groan. “Why are you being so difficult?” She plopped down on a chair near his desk. “I thought you loved me.” Her tone was full of the exasperation she projected quite dramatically before him. Hopefully this ridiculous fit would make him see things her way. She couldn’t wait until she could act like the adult she actually was, and not like the mindless girl her brother seemed to believe her to be. What would it take for her brother to see her that way? “Why can’t you just say yes?”
“Has anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue?”
She pinned him with a ferocious glare. “Has anyone ever told you that your behavior is tedious?”
His lips twitched. “Yes,” he replied in an amused tone. “You have. Several times in fact.”
“It bears repeating,” she said in a droll tone. “Now about the house party?”
He tapped his finger on the desk. Why wouldn’t he say yes already? “All right,” he conceded. “We can go. We will even leave early.” He glanced at his ledgers with annoyance. They were probably why he had head pain. Calliope could sympathize. She wouldn’t want that responsibility herself. “Lindsey asked me to come before his wife’s family descended upon them. Have your maid pack your trunk. We will leave at dawn.”
She clapped her hands in excitement. It was a good thing her maid was already doing just that… “Have I ever told you that you are my favorite brother.” Thank heaven he saw reason. She couldn’t wait to reach the house party and start socializing.
He narrowed his gaze. “I am your only brother.”
“Then it is fortunate that I like you.” She told him. “Thank you,” she said in an earnest tone. “Christmas isn’t your favorite time of the year. I want you to know Idounderstand that.” She smiled. “It sounds as if the duke does too. Is that why he asked you to come early.” She tilted her head to the side. “Wait... If you already planned to go, why did you tell me no?”
He shook his head. “I was going to write to Lindsey and decline the invitation. I received his missive earlier today. I haven’t had time to respond.” Then it was good she had come in to speak to him. He should be around people he cared about this time of the year. “Instead, I’ll send it ahead of us so they know to expect our arrival.”
“Oh, all right,” she said absentmindedly. She had so many plans… “Then I’ll let you finish your business and I’ll have Lucy start packing for me. I’ll see you later for the evening meal.” In truth, Lucy was probably close to finishing that task. Callie had other things to prepare for. Such as how to present herself to the guests at the house party…
She left him alone in his study to go back to his ledgers. Though she did hope that he left them untouched. If he went back to work his head pain would only worsen. She preferred her brother without his grumpy side. Hopefully this Christmas he would find something good. She closed her eyes and wished happiness for her brother. If anyone needed it, he did.
When they finally arrived atthe Lindsey estate, her brother breathed a sigh of relief—Calliope could appreciate the sentiment. She couldn’t wait to step out of the carriage and stretch her legs. When the carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance, Daniel stepped out immediately. She wished she could have as well, but it wasn’t quite as easy to exit a carriage with billowing skirts hampering her efforts. Daniel did halt long enough to assist Calliope out of the carriage. Then he stomped up the front steps and banged on the door. Damn…he was impatient.
“So kind of you to wait for me to walk with you,” Calliope said as she rushed to catch up with him. “You’re quite the gentleman, brother.” She brushed her hand over her skirt to smooth out some of the wrinkles from traveling. Her ministrations didn’t help much. She frowned at her disheveled state and resigned herself to looking frumpy before the duke and duchess. They would understand. No one truly expected perfection after traveling such a distance. She gave up on her skirts and focused her attention on her brother. He turned toward her and she wanted to slap the expression off his face. If they were anywhere else she might have given in to the urge.
Daniel met her gaze and grinned. “Thank you,” he replied in an amused tone. “I’ve always prided myself on being a gentleman.”
What an arse. Calliope rolled her eyes. “I would think most ladies consider you a scoundrel.”
