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“You would be wise to stay away from me entirely,” Lord Goodland told her. “But selfish as I am…I’m glad that you want to be…friendly.”
He was trying to be careful with her. Callie didn’t blame him for acting that way. A gentleman had to tread carefully with a lady’s reputation or he could easily ruin it, and his as well. Though a gentleman could get away with far more than a lady could. “I’m not yet ready to decide if we’re anything more than mere acquaintances,” she told him. “You have not yet proved your worthy of my good regard.”
“Then I have a challenge laid before me,” he said in a light tone. “There’s nothing I enjoy more.”
The bell rang announcing dinner. “A feat you are unlikely to achieve over one meal.” She smiled. “Are you willing to try beyond dinner?”
He held out his arm to her. “There is only one way to find out.” She looped her arm in his. “We shall have to spend more time together.”
She frowned. “I’m not certain that is wise. Your actions could be misconstrued.”
“In what way?” he asked as he led her into the dining room.
“The ton might believe you are courting me,” she explained. “I do believe that is something neither of us wishes to happen.”
“My courting you is a not a good thing?” He lifted a brow. “Many ladies would be honored to have my attention.”
She rolled her eyes. “Then it is fortunate that I’m not any of those ladies. I would like to believe I am smarter than to lay all my hopes on the whims of a man.” She had many wishes and dreams, but she would never speak those aloud. Now was neither the time nor the place for such confessions.
“You’re quite right,” he agreed. “On both counts…it would be best if the ton didn’t believe us to be courting. I wouldn’t want anyone to believe I’m in the market for a wife.” He glanced down at her. “And you would need a man willing to enter into a marriage courting you. We both can agree I’m not that man.”
“Yes, we can,” she replied. They reached their seats and he pulled out her chair for her. She sat and then he took the seat to her left. “Now that we’ve exhausted that topic what else should we discuss?”
“I’m open to all suggestions.” A waiter came by to fill their wine goblet. He lifted his glass and took a long drink. “Though I do hope we can skip the boring topics like the weather.”
“I can agree to that.” She picked up her own goblet and took a drink, then nearly choked on it. She pressed her napkin to her mouth so she didn’t spew out the wine everywhere.
“Are you all right?” Lord Goodland asked. The concern in his voice appeared genuine. He wasn’t as bad as the ton wanted everyone to believe. He just lived his life as he pleased and didn’t ask permission for anything. Callie could appreciate that.
“I am all right,” she said. There was nothing else she could say. “Do you like poetry?”
“Poetry?” He wrinkled his nose. “Please tell me you’re not one of Byron’s swooning ladies?”
“Actually no. I believe he is pretentious,” she told him. “That does not mean there are not any wonderful poems that I can appreciate.”
“And are there?” he asked.
“I can’t think of any in particular,” she admitted. “But we already agreed that the weather is not a subject either of us wishes to discuss.”
He laughed. “You continue to surprise me, Lady Calliope. I do hope you continue to do so.”
“That remains to be seen,” she told him. She lifted her wine glass and saluted him. “May the remainder of the evening prove to be as entertaining as this moment.” She took a sip and then set her glass down as the waiters started to set the table for the first course. Her debut ball had turned out to be an interesting event. She hoped the rest of the season would be as well. As far as Lord Goodland…he was still a bit of enigma, but she believed she was starting to peel away his layers. She would learn everything about him in time.
