Free The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich by Marcia Lynn McClure Page A

letters from up in Colorado has arrived for your sister, is that it, Miss Ipswich?”
    Calliope smiled and nodded. “It would seem so,” she answered. “Evangeline and her friend Jennie have recently renewed their friendship. I’m so glad , for they were very close when they were little girls.”
    “Yes , Evangeline has mentioned that she and Jennie were nearly inseparable before…before…” Mrs. Perry stammered.
    Knowing the kindhearted woman was uncomfortable and feeling awkward, Calliope finished, “Before our mother and baby brother died, yes.” Calliope sighed. “I was still very little , but I can remember how Evangeline and Jennie would find themselves so amused over the tiniest thing that they’d burst into giggles that seemed to me to last for hours.” She smiled as Mrs. Perry handed the letter to her. “I’m glad they’re corresponding now.”
    Snapping her fingers to indicate she’d just remembered something, Mrs. Perry added, “Oh , I nearly forgot. There’s one addressed to both you and Evangeline too. It’s stamped ‘Langtree.’ I’m thinkin’ it might be from—”
    “Amoretta!” Calliope squealed as Mrs. Perry drew another letter from her wooden box, offering it to Calliope. She knew at once that it was from Amoretta , for the script was so beautiful and swirly and perfect, and no one in the world had handwriting as beautiful as Amoretta’s.
    “Oh, thank you, Mrs. Perry,” Calliope said gratefully. “ We’ve got such plans, we Ipswich girls! Just you wait and see what fun plans we have!”
    Mrs. Perry laughed and said, “Oh , I’m sure you’re up to something, Calliope. You always are! Now you run along and enjoy your post, all righty?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Calliope agreed. “And thank you so much , both of you,” she said, tossing a wave to Mr. and Mrs. Perry as she hurried out of the general store.
    She couldn’t wait to read Amoretta’s thoughts on the Tom Thumb wedding she and Evangeline were planning. She missed her older sister so much, even for the fact that she knew Amoretta was blissful in her love for Brake.
    Calliope was so excited about reading Amoretta’s letter, in fact, that instead of waiting until she arrived home, she hurriedly opened the envelope in her haste to read it while she was walking out of the general store.
    “ My Darlings ,” Calliope read under her breath as she walked, “ I was so very delighted to receive your letters concerning the Tom Thumb wedding! I— ”
    Calliope gasped and looked up, astonished into nearly dropping the letter s, as she found herself face to face with Tate Chesterfield. She’d bumped right into him.
    “Oh! I-I beg your pardon, Mr. Chesterfield,” she apologized at once. “I was so engrossed in this letter , I wasn’t paying proper attention to where I was walking.”
    But the tall, dark-haired newcomer simply smiled a handsome and somewhat alluring smile and said, “Oh, never you mind, Miss Calliope. The fault lies squarely on my shoulders.”
    “Are you all right, Calliope?” Fox Montrose inquired, taking hold of her arm in attempted support—or to show some sort of possession to Tate. Calliope wasn’t sure which.
    Calliope smiled at him and said, “Oh , I’m just fine, Fox.” Looking to Tate, she added, “And thank you, Mr. Chesterfield, for forgiving me my bad manners.”
    “Oh , I can’t imagine you ever havin’ bad manners, Miss Calliope,” Tate said, taking hold of her other arm. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you? That you didn’t twist your ankle or somethin’?”
    “No , I’m fine,” Calliope said. She was uncomfortable. Fox was glaring at Tate Chesterfield, but Tate wore an expression of pure daring—even premature triumph. For pity’s sake! All she wanted to do was read Amoretta’s letter.
    “But thank you, gentlemen , all the same,” she said, gently trying to tug her arm free of Tate’s grasp. But he held tight, as did Fox when she tried to free herself from his