Masquerading the Marquess (36 page)

Calliope opened the morning paper.

A cartoon with the caption.
Marrying the Marquess
was prominently displayed. A mad wedding was depicted.
Acrobatic folk hanging from the rafters, outraged matrons sitting next to women of questionable virtue, naive debutantes being chased by bewigged actors.
Roth and Stephen winking at scantily dressed opera girls.

In the center, untouched by all of the chaos surrounding them, the handsome groom gazed lovingly at the radiant bride. A single beautiful bloom was held tenderly in her hand.

Calliope smiled and let the paper float to the desk amid her ink and paper.

"Goodbye, Thomas Landes, and thank you."