He relaxed his pose and gently lifted her chin. "Why didn’t you try to speak directly to Salisbury at some point after your altercation with Lady Salisbury?"
A painfully bitter look crossed her features. "I planned on confronting him. Plotted exactly what I’d say. He was never in the country and I wanted to do it face-to-face. He died before I had the chance." She paused and drew in a ragged breath. "I thought I had plenty of time."
"I’m very sorry, Calliope."
She drew herself up. "Spare me your pity. A wonderful family adopted and loved me. I’ve done a lot better than I might have. I have no regrets."
Challenge and pride made her rigid in the seat. In that moment he truly believed she was Salisbury ’s daughter.
A clock struck eleven.
He straightened and allowed her to rise. "There are definitely some misunderstandings that need to be cleared, but it’s obvious you won’t accept them from me. When Stephen reappears, he will help."
He saw her wobble slightly as she headed toward the dressing table. She had mentioned limping to the Salisbury estate the night of the fire. He wondered if the house fire had been the cause of the slight limp that was noticeable only when she was visibly stressed.
James let her compose herself for a few tense minutes before changing the subject. There were too many unanswered questions in his mind. It seemed unbelievable she had met Stephen upon his return and become his mistress so quickly. There were too many ties to the past.
"The name Calliope suits you. Your mother was one of the most adored opera singers in Europe. She was amazingly talented. "
An acidic look crossed her face in the mirror. "Yes, and she had scores of illustrious admirers, wealthy, successful, high-placed men and women, but was still considered beneath the social strata that adored her."
James paused. "You really hate us, don’t you?"
She vigorously stroked the red silk dress. He couldn’t see her eyes when she responded. "Not all of you, just most."
He didn’t ask if he was included in that group.
He lightened his tone. "Why do you frequent the ton in so many guises? Are you a masochist? Or do you have an ulterior motive to wreak havoc?"
"Enough of this." She turned and moved toward the door. Her movements were jerky. "We’re here to find information that will help us locate Stephen."
"I’ll let it drop for now, Calliope, but rest assured we’ll discuss it another time."
She gave him a disgruntled look and changed the subject again. "Other than Pettigrew, who do you think was in the room with us?"
"Whoever it was, he didn’t sound particularly adept, wouldn’t you agree?"
There was a slight easing in her tense features, and she nodded.
"We have to assume Pettigrew took whatever he was after, so we are going to have to continue our search later tonight. Together."
She lifted an eyebrow, her features relaxing more.
He continued, "That way we can explain ourselves if we are caught. We’ll just say we weren’t able to reach our own rooms in time."
He held out his arm and felt the slight shiver run through her as they made contact. It caused an equal reaction in him.
This whole debacle was becoming increasingly tangled. Arm in arm, they headed back to the party.
They neared the card room, where most of the male guests were playing high-stakes games. Calliope ran an imaginary hand over her features, smoothing them into her practiced mask. She tried to do the same with her emotions, but had less success.
Fear and trauma after losing her mother had kept her from confronting Salisbury. With time, both emotions had lessened and the desire to see him and confront him had grown. The opportunity had been snatched away with his untimely death.
Calliope had mourned his death. She had rationalized that her feelings had sprung from the inability to seek her own small justice, but she had always known that in a locked-up place in her heart she had mourned for the smiling man who’d always read her favorite stories aloud.
Her feelings for her father were as jumbled as her feelings for the man on whose arm she had placed her hand.
Lady Flanders rose from the table that included Roth, Ternberry and Pettigrew. She gave Calliope a superior look and swept out of the room.
Roth smiled at Calliope. "Esmerelda, come join us. Oh, you too, Angelford." Roth waved a hand toward James as if to indicate that he was a poor second choice.
They were playing whist.
Roth was partnering Pettigrew. Ternberry gave a snort of disgust and he too rose. "Cheating sons of-"
Roth lifted an eyebrow and Ternberry took himself off quickly.
"Well, then, looks like we have two empty seats," Roth said.
"What do you say to one game, my dear? Would you be willing to be my partner for a quick win before we retire to other pursuits?" James said confidently as he held the seat for Calliope.
Calliope was glad he had committed them for a single game. Whist was addictive and they needed to continue their search.
Roth won the draw. He shuffled the cards expertly, offered James a cut and dealt each player thirteen cards. His thirteenth card, a ten of diamonds, lay face up to indicate trump. Play began and each player tested the others’ skills through subsequent hands.
Calliope was unsurprised to find Angelford an excellent player. He was aggressive at all the appropriate times and had an uncanny knack for correctly assessing her hand. The irritating man was enjoying himself as he scooped up the last trick. He gathered the cards and shuffled.
"Pettigrew, did you find the Egyptian scroll satisfactory?"
Pettigrew grimaced at the score. James and Calliope needed only one more point for game.
"What? Oh, yes. It was exactly what I was looking for. "
James smoothly handed the cards to Pettigrew for a cut. "Are you searching for anything else?"
Pettigrew fumbled nervously but completed the cut. James began dealing without glancing at Pettigrew and Calliope noticed a bead of moisture forming on Pettigrew’s forehead. Roth seemed oblivious to the undercurrents; he merely sat sipping his wine.
"No, at present I am not in the market for anything else." The bead of moisture slipped down the side of Pettigrew’s face.
James picked up his cards. "I heard there are some avid buyers right now. I was wondering if you knew anything. "
Roth lazily scanned his cards and then threw out a spade lead. "Do you have anything for sale, Angelford? Something of interest?"
"I may."
Calliope watched Pettigrew’s pale face as he scooped up the trick he had played off with a heart. Roth, on the other hand, appeared totally at ease. Pettigrew was out of his league on several counts.
Roth nodded and led another spade. "You may find someone interested at the ministry. I hear there is an inquiry into lost objects."
James played his card and Pettigrew threw a spade.
"Well, I say, I do believe I have accidentally revoked, which gives you two the game. Absent-
minded of me. My apologies, Roth. I do believe I will check on my other guests."
Pettigrew excused himself and quickly exited the room.
Roth idly played with the remaining cards in his hand. "If I may offer some advice, I suggest you-"
Lady Flanders breezed back into the room and ran a finger suggestively down the front of Roth’s tailored coat. "Roth, darling, what are you still doing here? Come join the others."
She sent a coolly appraising look to Calliope and assumed a lofty stance. "Leave Angelford to his pursuits, odd as they may be."
It was obvious she would not leave until Roth followed. Roth sent Calliope an amused glance. "As you can see, everyone has a motive. Until later."