Lady Be Bad by Elaine Raco Chase

discomfort and quickly
downed the last of the scotch. "I don't remember her having a body
quite like that either, Perkins. She was never that...that. .
."
    "Sexy, sir?"
    "Yeah. Sexy. She was more wifely, homey, old
fashioned."
    "Well, sir, it seems that saying: 'Women
don't get older, they get better,' is quite true in Miss O'Brian's
case."
    He grunted. "Well, I always thought she was
better. The best. Why else would I have married her?"
    Perkins ran a hand through the thin sweep of
gray hair that covered his head. "I've been in service to a number
of married couples, sir. And I've discovered there are lots of
reasons for people marrying."
    "Like what?" He looked at him with
interest.
    "Money, power, loneliness, revenge,
spite."
    Noah shook his head. "Sounds more like the
ingredients of a TV soap opera."
    "Life does have a way of imitating and often
surpassing art, sir."
    "Well, I married that --" His index finger
jabbed into the bush, "…woman for love. That's the same reason I
divorced her. And the same reason I intend to marry her all over
again."
    Perkins looked at Noah, his face devoid of
any expression. "Even with all the changes in her?"
    "I don't really mind all her changes." His
expression turned bleak. "But I wonder how she likes all of mine."
Noah stared morosely at the ice cubes that were melting in his
glass.
    "The cane, sir?"
    "Yes, my little partner here." He patted the
black wood. "I do like this better than that wheelchair."
    "What has been Miss O'Brian's reaction to
it?" Perkins inquired in an even tone.
    "Interest, of course. I've yet to tell her
about everything." Noah sighed and ran a hand over his face. "But
at least she doesn't seem to pity me. I couldn't handle that,
Perkins. Gwen does, and it annoys the hell out of me."
    Perkins cleared his throat. "About Miss
Gwen, sir?"
    "Oh, God, I've got to handle her and Arthur
just right. You know how he can be."
    "Indeed I do, sir."
    Noah spread open another branch to inspect
the gathering. "Look at her, Perkins. Mimi fits right into this
crowd. She's undaunted by the politicians, plays kissy-kissy with
the Hollywood group, shares intimate little mutterings with the jet
setters. Makes me wonder…"
    "About what, sir?" Perkins inspected the
last shrimp puff carefully before placing it into his mouth.
    "She always hated parties. She was shy and
hesitant. And here she is making cutesy with everyone." Noah turned
his head. "Do you know she once volunteered to work a double shift
because she didn't want to attend the hospital Christmas party and
couldn't come up with a good excuse."
    Noah took a deep breath. "I guess the thing
that really bothers me is her obvious fame. It's hard for me to
imagine my wife gracing the covers of magazines or her eye makeup
being copied by millions of women across America. Kind of
shattering to a man's ego, wouldn't you say, Perkins?"
    "I'd be rather proud of Miss O'Brian, if it
were I, sir. She obviously is quite adept at handling people and
situations. She seems to take her fame with a modicum of humility.
There are other women present, a few of them models, starlets, and
wives of various important men, who flaunt their status and success
ad nauseam. I see none of that coming from Miss O'Brian."
    "Why thank you, Perkins," a cheery feminine
voice interrupted. "That was a lovely thing to say."
    "You're quite welcome, miss." Perkins
adjusted the cuffs on his formal serving jacket before standing up.
"May I bring you something?"
    Marlayna lifted her champagne glass. "No
thanks. I just thought I'd come over here and toast Casanova."
    Noah snickered.
    "Now, now, get that look out of your eye,
Mr. Drake." She sat in the reverse direction on the seat Perkins
had just vacated. "I saw the way Gwen fairly sparkles when she
looks at you." Marlayna rubbed the crystal goblet against his jaw.
"Of course, I can't blame her. You are especially devastating
tonight in this formal white suit."
    "I noticed you have a rather devastating
effect on Arthur,"