“Ah,” she said, knowing and teasing in her tone. “You are saying that Monsieur Latuffe was not the only idiota in the room this afternoon.”
One side of Ralston’s mouth twitched in chagrin. “No. It appears not.” He relaxed into his chair. “Do you know, I do not think that anyone has ever spoken to me such?”
A smile flashed. “You are long overdue for a sister, my lord.”
He considered her words. “I think you may be right.”
“Callie, she is different from other women,” Juliana said, entirely overstepping her bounds. “She is so willing to do what she must to make a situation right.”
A vision flashed, Callie standing in the doorway of his study, so obviously hurt by the words she had overheard and yet so willing to defend Juliana to him—to tell him precisely where he had overstepped the bounds of brotherhood. As though her personal pride were somehow less important than Juliana’s happiness.
When he turned his attention back to his sister, she was looking at him with a knowing gaze. “I see you have noticed the same.”
“Yes. She is quite remarkable.”
“Perhaps you should apologize for your…” She waved one hand, searching for the word.
“Idiocy?”
She smiled. “If you like.”
He shifted in his chair, resting one leg over the other, and they grew quiet once more, each lost in thought. Finally, Gabriel spoke up, “Do you enjoy art?”
She looked up, curious. “I do.”
“I should very much like to take you to the Royal Art Exhibition.” He lifted his book. “To thank you for the gift.”
“You do not have to thank me for the gift. Remember? This is what our family does.”
He inclined his head. “Then, I would like for our family also to attend the Royal Art Exhibition.”
“Ah, well then. If you are going to make a rule of it…I suppose I have no choice but to accept your invitation.”
He laughed. “How very magnanimous of you.”
“I thought so.”
Gabriel leaned forward with a smile. “You know, Juliana, I think you may be long overdue for a brother.”
Juliana tilted her head again, in a gesture he was coming to find rather endearing. “I think you may be right.”
Sixteen
Callie alighted from the Rivington coach at the front of Somerset House and turned back to meet Mariana’s smile as her sister followed her down from the carriage. The sisters were immediately surrounded by throngs of people, all scrambling for entrance to the private viewing of the Royal Academy of Art Exhibition, one of the most sought-after invitations of the season.
She watched as Mariana took Rivington’s arm with a loving look, allowing the duke to guide her up the wide marble steps to the entrance of Somerset House, where the exhibition was already under way. Callie suppressed a little sigh at the obvious adoration between the two.
“My lady?”
Callie started at the words, turning to her own companion, Baron Oxford.
“Shall we?”
Callie pasted a bright smile on her face and took his offered arm. “Indeed, my lord.”
They followed Mariana and Rivington up the wide entryway to the gallery, refusing to allow Oxford’s odd behavior to mar the events of the afternoon. The Royal Exhibition had always been one of Callie’s favorite activities of the season, as it gave Londoners a rare look at the work of the country’s most revered contemporary artists. Callie loved art, and made it a point never to miss an exhibition.
“I have heard that we might see the most recent Blake etchings today, my lord,” she offered as she climbed the steps.
Oxford gave her a strange look before asking disbelievingly, “You aren’t really here to see the art, are you?”
Callie’s confusion showed. “Certainly. I very much enjoy the fine arts. You do not?”
“I like a pretty painting as much as the next chap,” Oxford said. “But no one really comes to the private viewing to see the art, Lady Calpurnia. It’s about proving you are able to secure a ticket.”
Callie dipped her head to keep the baron from seeing her roll her eyes. “Oh, yes. Well that is an impressive feat as well.”
“Have you ever been here before?” Oxford asked, a boast already in his voice.
Callie hedged, uncertain of whether she should answer truthfully. She didn’t have to.
Mariana, who had been waiting with Rivington for Callie and Oxford to catch up to them, stepped in and answered for her. “Our father was a trustee of the Royal Academy, Baron Oxford. This is one of Callie’s favorite days of the year.”
“Truly? I hadn’t thought you would be such an…academic.” The word sounded foreign on his tongue.
“Oh, Callie’s quite brilliant when it comes to art. You should hear her speak about the Renaissance.” Mariana turned a bright smile on the baron before continuing, “You don’t mind if I steal my darling sister away, do you? I see a Pearce that we’ve been longing to have a look at.”
With that, Mariana clasped Callie’s arm and whisked her through the crush of people, away from their escorts. “Ugh. He’s insufferable! What on earth possessed you to accept his invitation?”
“He extended an invitation, Mari. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not in a position to refuse them.” She paused. “Besides, he’s not as bad as all that.”
“He’s an imbecile. And a drunk,” Mariana said frankly before smiling broadly in acknowledgment of the Viscountess Longwell, who tipped her head in response as they passed her. “For goodness sake, you’re willing to dress as a man and sneak into Benedick’s fencing club, but you won’t turn down Oxford?”
“Shh!” Callie looked around to be certain that Mariana hadn’t been heard. “Are you addled, mentioning that here? The fact is that I accepted Oxford’s invitation. And now we’re being rather rude.”
“Pshaw. Rivington will entertain him,” Mariana was distracted, standing on her toes, craning to see above the crowds. “You don’t see Juliana, do you?”
Callie froze. “Juliana Fiori?”
Mariana gave Callie an odd look. “Yes, Calpurnia. Juliana Fiori. Which other Juliana would I be looking for?”
“I didn’t know she was going to be here.”
“Mmm,” Mariana said, looking about. “Apparently Ralston offered to bring her. I promised her we wouldn’t see Blake’s Jerusalem without her.”
Callie opened her mouth to speak, uncertain of what to say, only sure that she would have no choice but to leave the exhibition before she ran into Ralston. She couldn’t see him. Couldn’t be in the same room with him. It didn’t matter that half of London would be there as well. Callie began to feel panicked.
“Ah…here are the ladies for whom we’ve been searching.” Callie and Mariana whirled to face Oxford and Rivington. Oxford captured Callie’s gaze and flashed a brilliant smile. “You left us, but we are excellent at tracking our prey.”
“Indeed, it appears so, my lord.” This afternoon was growing more and more odd. She should have remained home. That much was clear.
“Lady Calpurnia, may I escort you to see some of the paintings in the North Gallery?”