Callie gaped at him, suspecting that he fibbed. Her ire rose, for he was intent on sabotaging whatever he thought she planned.
“Robert…” her mother began, “Oh! I meant to say, Lord Deerwood, please attend to your business.”
Her mother failed to hide her deflation, and it made Callie realize that her mother’s desire for happiness may outweigh the fears which drove her earlier to decide to flee the house party. The nudge toward her heart’s desire was still needed.
The earl seemed crestfallen. “I do suppose we could row on the lake another time, Lady Danby.”
Callie touched their mother’s hand. “Mama, you’ve wished so very much to row—”
“And father has been telling me how much he wished for news on the copper mines he’s invested in. Surely the rowing can wait.”
“The boats are already prepared,” Callie interposed.
She glared at him and fought not to squirm under the intensity of his stare.
“And Lord Prescott is waiting,” the viscount drawled.
Their parents’ gazes volleyed between them, and they shared a glance Callie could not interpret. Letty seemed amused and did nothing to hide her reaction.
Her mother chose that instance to say, “I do know you also enjoy rowing, my dear. Why don’t you take the boat out with the viscount? I did not sleep well last night, and I fear it has brought on a mild headache. I should rest before it becomes a greater discomfort.”
“Yes, I would be honored to show you the lake, Miss Middleton,” the viscount said, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I am sure it will be a relaxing endeavor.”
Callie swallowed the sound of outrage welling in her throat. It wouldn’t do for anyone to see how much he annoyed her. Her mother turne
d bright, curious eyes to her, and a heaviness settled in Callie’s stomach. There would be no getting her mama and the earl into the boat now. Perhaps the rain would not come at all, and her twitching nose had been an anomaly.
“Perhaps for a few minutes, I believed rain might come soon,” she said, admitting that her agreement was because she wanted to spend a few minutes with the viscount.
Callie had never been the sort of person to shy away from complicated situations, she preferred to understand them, and the curious sensations stirring in her heart caused by the viscount warranted close examination.
“Oh, my daughter has a nose for sensing the rain,” the viscountess said with an airy laugh. “It is indeed fascinating.”
“How curious then she would want you to be caught in the rain, my lady,” Graham speculated, his cynical eyes pinning her.
She refused to squirm. Callie couldn’t very well admit that she had been hoping the rain would trap their parents once they’ve reached the far end of the lake. That would violate the agreement between her and the viscount. Dusk would arrive, and with the rains, it would be impossible to return, and they would be forced to spend the night in the cottage she and Letty had painstakingly arranged to be aired and cleaned!
A few minutes later, she sat comfortably in the rowing boat with the viscount. Her mother, Letty, and the earl had waved them off before walking away. Now that she was alone with the man, an unexpected wave of shyness consumed Callie. The silliness of it made her frown several times, and the dratted man did not help by staring at her. His powerful shoulders lifted as he clawed back the oars taking them across the wide picturesque lake.
“I do not think we should go too far,” she warned.
He glanced at the sky. “I doubt we have much to worry about.”
“Do not be deceived by the sun, my nose has been twitching!”
That drew a smile from him. “Twitching?”
“Yes. I could be reading or taking a stroll or eating breakfast with my family, and my nose just moves on its own. It smells or senses the rain.”
He cast her an arresting glance. “I find that notion alarming. An appendage taking on a life of its own.”
Callie surprised them by laughing. “It really confounds my family. But I can always tell when it is about to rain. Perhaps my nose is enchanted.”
“Ah, it’s not just your nose I’m afraid,” he muttered as if bemused.
She flushed and dared a glance at him, and found not a trace of humor on his face. He finds me enchanting.
“What do you enjoy besides playing matchmaker, Callisto,” he said, and it was as if he savored the sound of her name on his lips. “I find I am very curious about you.”