Wife Errant by Joan Smith Page A

sniffles? Or was that all a hum?”No trace of illness hung about him. He looked remarkably healthy, though the wind might have given him those ruddy cheeks.
    “It was only a chill. My valet threw me into a hot bath and a warm bed, comforted me with restorative liqueurs, and cured me. Beakins is a marvel. Better than a sawbones. Did you think I had forsaken you?”he teased.
    “I thought you might have,”she admitted, but without rancor. “My hope, when you refused Mama’s invitation last night, was that you only wanted to avoid the concert. It was horrid, but Papa was there, and came to the house after.”She told every detail she had gleaned from her mama. “So you see my campaign is bearing fruit,”she finished, with a smile.
    “Your campaign?”he demanded. “Surely you mean our campaign. Who twisted Aunt Corbeil’s arm to have this party?”
    “Do you mean you actually went to so much trouble for us, Revel? I am greatly impressed. You are entering into the spirit of the thing splendidly! I never expected such condescension, for in the usual way you never go an inch out of your way for anyone.”
    “Thank you,”he said in a weak voice. “When I court a lady, I pull out all the stops and do it fortissimo. What sort of corsage would you like? Say rosebuds. They are already ordered.”
    “Rosebuds are fine,”she said dully. “I do not agree with Mama that they are so common as to be an insult. Truly I do not,”she added when she saw his lips firm in annoyance. “As it is only a small rout party, I daresay most of the ladies will not have any corsage at all. One would be expecting too much to receive an orchid for a small rout.”
    “I’m glad you are so pleased, Tess.”
    “Have you had an opportunity to speak to Lord James?”was her next question.
    “His was the first card I delivered. He is aware he may continue seeing your mama until further notice. He is also aware his mature charms find no favor with Mrs. Marchant’s elder daughter.”
    “I hope you didn’t tell him what I said!”
    “I am not such a flat. I merely told him Tess was a bothersome wench who bear-led her poor escorts, leading them to destroy their carriages and catch cold standing in the raw wind.”
    Tess nodded in satisfaction. “A man his age would be concerned about catching cold. Where are we taking these invitations?”
    “My footman is delivering all but yours and Cousin James’s.”
    “You lied to Mama?”
    “Harsh words! I did not lie; I merely prevaricated. I told your mama I was delivering the cards, not all the cards. I delivered yours and my cousin’s.”
    “Where are we going then?”
    “We shall drive into the country and find an inn for tea.”
    “You don’t want to be seen on the strut with me,”she said. It was not an accusation, but a simple statement. “I quite understand, Revel. Naturally someone who considers himself a dasher would not want to be seen publicly with such a dowd, though I am wearing a new bonnet, which you did not even mention.”
    Considers himself a dasher! The gall of the wench! “Very nice,”he said perfunctorily. “Are you sure it’s new? It looks like the one you wore yesterday.”
    “I always buy navy bonnets for winter, to match my pelisse. This one has a higher poke. You must have noticed.”
    “To be sure. At least a quarter of an inch higher. Which direction shall we head? Toward the Mendip Hills, or — ”
    “That’s much too far. I cannot stay away so long.”
    He turned a curious eye on her. “Correct me if I am wrong, Tess, but was it not the plan that I help you misbehave? That you stay out longer than your mama likes, to bring her to a proper idea of chaperoning you and Dulcie?”
    “That was the idea originally,”she admitted, frowning. “It seems to be changing now. What I want most is for her to bring Papa to heel. If they are back together, then that hint of impropriety will be removed from the family. They will both chaperone Dulcie and me at the