held him back from mentioning Stephen’s note or pushing the matter.
"Well, then, good day. I will see you next week."
Holt nodded, returning his attention to the papers on his desk as James let himself out.
"How invigorating. I swear the new play has made me a hermit. It’s time I had a little fun."
Calliope smiled. Deirdre had been chattering for the past hour.
"I’m glad you are going, Dee . Someday I will l get you to quit the stage and collaborate with me."
"La, if it means being squired about by men who look and act like Stephen, count me in."
Calliope chuckled as she slid the final pin into the mass of raven hair piled on top of Deirdre’s head.
Stephen had procured an invitation for Deirdre to attend the masquerade as well. Only Robert would be missing from their foursome. Regrettably, he had accepted an invitation to the country for two days of hunting.
It was a shame Robert would not be present. A masquerade made it easy to conceal one’s identity, and the four of them would have been able to converse and gallivant quite freely with no one the wiser.
"Mother met Father at a masquerade, you know. It was love at first sight. Or first masked sight, at least. " Dee laughed. "He swept her out of there before any of the young bucks claimed her. It was quite a daring feat too." Deirdre’s voice rose excitedly as the tale progressed. "Why, he . . ."
Her voice became a pleasant hum in Calliope’s head. Calliope didn’t need to listen to recite the story back in detail. She had heard it many times. In an acting family, storytelling was a beloved pastime. The more theatrical the yarn, the better.
Calliope’s own adventure at the Killroys’ ball had proven a hit with the family. The story was deemed a "classic" directly after its first telling. She had been asked to retell it more than once in the last few weeks. The seal of approval, which was given when someone else in the family retold a story, had come just last week when the youngest Daly boy decided to embellish the tale.
". . . and then she slapped him for taking liberties. Ah, but she was really hoping he would take them again. And so he . . ." Deirdre blithely continued.
Calliope arranged Deirdre’s mask and perched a jaunty feather in her upswept hair. She glanced critically in the mirror, trying to see if she had missed anything. Deirdre was gowned in green and gold, a devastating combination with her dark hair, dark eyes and fair skin. She looked gorgeous. Calliope couldn’t wait for the reaction.
Her own outfit consisted of a smartly cut black and red costume with a domino. Deirdre and she had dressed differently, but with the goal to attract attention together. She was confident they would succeed.
Deirdre heaved a dramatic sigh. Always the performer, she placed a hand upon her chest. ". . . And then they were married. Such a splendid ending to a wonderful tale."
"Marriage is always a nice way to end such tales."
Deirdre tried to hide her face in a powder puff, but Calliope saw the abashed look spread on her face and was immediately contrite. It wasn’t Deirdre’s fault that Calliope’s parents had never married.
She put her arm around Dee . "That was peckish. And it’s not a night for peckishness. Let’s go set the gentlemen on their ears."
Dee responded with a quick squeeze as they gathered their props and headed downstairs.
"Have a good night, miss. Miss." Grimmond nodded to both of them as they were bustled into the small coach Stephen had provided for when he was unavailable.
Deirdre revived her earlier gaiety and chattered excitedly as the coach swayed over the cobblestones. Her mood was contagious and Calliope felt a curl of anticipation.
They arrived to a flourish of color and noise, waiting excitedly for each carriage to unload its passengers and move on. In turn, they breezed up to the door, handing their invitations
"Well, then, good day. I will see you next week."
Holt nodded, returning his attention to the papers on his desk as James let himself out.
"How invigorating. I swear the new play has made me a hermit. It’s time I had a little fun."
Calliope smiled. Deirdre had been chattering for the past hour.
"I’m glad you are going, Dee . Someday I will l get you to quit the stage and collaborate with me."
"La, if it means being squired about by men who look and act like Stephen, count me in."
Calliope chuckled as she slid the final pin into the mass of raven hair piled on top of Deirdre’s head.
Stephen had procured an invitation for Deirdre to attend the masquerade as well. Only Robert would be missing from their foursome. Regrettably, he had accepted an invitation to the country for two days of hunting.
It was a shame Robert would not be present. A masquerade made it easy to conceal one’s identity, and the four of them would have been able to converse and gallivant quite freely with no one the wiser.
"Mother met Father at a masquerade, you know. It was love at first sight. Or first masked sight, at least. " Dee laughed. "He swept her out of there before any of the young bucks claimed her. It was quite a daring feat too." Deirdre’s voice rose excitedly as the tale progressed. "Why, he . . ."
Her voice became a pleasant hum in Calliope’s head. Calliope didn’t need to listen to recite the story back in detail. She had heard it many times. In an acting family, storytelling was a beloved pastime. The more theatrical the yarn, the better.
Calliope’s own adventure at the Killroys’ ball had proven a hit with the family. The story was deemed a "classic" directly after its first telling. She had been asked to retell it more than once in the last few weeks. The seal of approval, which was given when someone else in the family retold a story, had come just last week when the youngest Daly boy decided to embellish the tale.
". . . and then she slapped him for taking liberties. Ah, but she was really hoping he would take them again. And so he . . ." Deirdre blithely continued.
Calliope arranged Deirdre’s mask and perched a jaunty feather in her upswept hair. She glanced critically in the mirror, trying to see if she had missed anything. Deirdre was gowned in green and gold, a devastating combination with her dark hair, dark eyes and fair skin. She looked gorgeous. Calliope couldn’t wait for the reaction.
Her own outfit consisted of a smartly cut black and red costume with a domino. Deirdre and she had dressed differently, but with the goal to attract attention together. She was confident they would succeed.
Deirdre heaved a dramatic sigh. Always the performer, she placed a hand upon her chest. ". . . And then they were married. Such a splendid ending to a wonderful tale."
"Marriage is always a nice way to end such tales."
Deirdre tried to hide her face in a powder puff, but Calliope saw the abashed look spread on her face and was immediately contrite. It wasn’t Deirdre’s fault that Calliope’s parents had never married.
She put her arm around Dee . "That was peckish. And it’s not a night for peckishness. Let’s go set the gentlemen on their ears."
Dee responded with a quick squeeze as they gathered their props and headed downstairs.
"Have a good night, miss. Miss." Grimmond nodded to both of them as they were bustled into the small coach Stephen had provided for when he was unavailable.
Deirdre revived her earlier gaiety and chattered excitedly as the coach swayed over the cobblestones. Her mood was contagious and Calliope felt a curl of anticipation.
They arrived to a flourish of color and noise, waiting excitedly for each carriage to unload its passengers and move on. In turn, they breezed up to the door, handing their invitations
Similar Books
