Mischief in Regency Society: To Catch a Rogue. Amanda McCabe

gown. Had she grown so predictable, then? She feared she had—white gowns, arguments with Lord Westwood, the evening was set. Too bad life couldn’t follow such easy patterns. It always insisted on throwing obstacles in one’s path. Things like thieves, and dukes obsessed with one’s sister.

      And handsome young earls.

      Calliope pushed all that away, and discarded her shawl to begin her evening toilette. A card party was not the place to suddenly become unpredictable. But if society thought they really knew Calliope Chase—well, soon, they would just have to think again.

      The scene in the Chase drawing room was a distinct contrast to the one that happened in the duke’s grand ballroom. There were no fantastical costumes, no gods and monsters and nymphs, just ordinary mortals in stylish, if subdued, evening dress. No wild dancing, no crowds packed to the walls, and much less artwork. But at least their statues, Calliope thought with satisfaction, were legally obtained and properly looked after.