The Ideal Wife(60)

“I’ve tried it,” the other said. “It doesn’t work. It did once when I had a chill and went to Priss. But this time it doesn’t.”

The earl grinned. “Still missing her?” he said. “Is that why you are like a bear at a stake?”

“Talking about getting foxed,” Sir Gerald said, “there are no drinks in here. I’ll ring.” He lurched to his feet.

“Not on my account,” the earl said, raising a hand. “I can’t stay, Ger. I am just a messenger boy this afternoon. Abby wants you to join us in a picnic to Richmond. Miss Seymour will be there too, of course. You had better come. Perhaps she will take your mind off Prissy.” He grinned.

“Absolutely and definitely no,” the other said irritably. “You might as well have married Frances Meighan, Miles. This wife has you just as firmly in tow. And Frances would have been prettier to look at.” He frowned at the fraying tassel that he had just pulled.

“Careful,” the earl said.

“And this one is like to be many times more expensive,”Sir Gerald said. “You need to take her in hand from the start, Miles, before you find that it is too . . . Oof!” His shoulder glanced off the mantel and he went crashing and sprawling across the hearth and among the fire irons. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and felt the left side of his jaw gingerly. “What the devil was that for?”

The Earl of Severn stood over him, fists clenched at his sides. “You know very well what it was for,” he said through his teeth. “You were speaking of my wife, Gerald.”

“So she is going to destroy our friendship too, is she?” Sir Gerald said, flexing his jaw and wincing. “I hope you haven’t broken it, Miles. How am I supposed to explain the bruise?”

The earl reached down a hand to help him to his feet. “If it is the new clothes and the diamonds and the pearls that have you fearing for my financial ruin,” he said, “they were all my idea, Ger. And the clothes and the jewels I buy my wife are none of your damned business. And neither is her beauty or the amount of time I choose to spend with her. If our friendship is ruined, it will be nothing to do with Abby—or with me either.”

“You should not come here quarreling with me when I have a head the size of a hot-air balloon,” Sir Gerald said, sinking into his chair again and prodding at his jaw with his fingertips. When the door opened, he directed his manservant to bring the brandy decanter and glasses. “I didn’t mean to insult Lady Severn, Miles. I’m sorry. But you yourself said you had chosen her because she was plain and would not intrude into your life. Devil take it, but I feel wretched.”

“A word of advice,” Lord Severn said. “Don’t drink any brandy, Ger. Your head will explode into the blue yonder just like a burst balloon. What did you mean when you said that Abby would be expensive?”

“Nothing,” his friend said. “Forget it.”

“What did you mean?”

“Look, Miles,” Sir Gerald said, first sniffing and then blowing his nose again, “I felt deuced miserable enough before you decided to practice one of Jackson’s best punches on my jaw. Go home to your wife, will you, and leave me alone to die? God, I wish Priss were still in town.”

“I’m leaving.” The earl got to his feet. “But tell me first what you meant.”

“Did you know she was at Mrs. Harper’s yesterday?”Sir Gerald asked.

“At Mrs. Harper’s?” The earl frowned.

“Fox saw her there,” Sir Gerald said. “Sudden wealth must have gone to her head, Miles. She will gamble your fortune away if you don’t be careful. You will be fortunate if she doesn’t start asking you for large sums of money any day. But, sorry.” He held up a hand. “You don’t need any comment from me, do you? Perhaps it was Lady Severn’s double. Or perhaps it was a social call. Maybe Mrs. Harper is her maiden aunt or something—though she would not be a maiden aunt, would she? Who knows? It’s none of my business. But Fox was sniggering over it. And you must know that Lady Severn’s reputation does not stand on very firm ground as it is.”#p#分页标题#e#

“There will be a good explanation,” Lord Severn said quietly. “Abby’s brother has been doing some gambling, I gather. Abby is probably trying to save him from the sharks. I’m on my way. Try that steaming bowl again, Ger. And leave the brandy alone. You won’t come to Richmond, then?”

“Oh, yes, I’ll come,” Sir Gerald said irritably. “You are my friend, Miles, and I had better start liking your wife, hadn’t I? I think you are growing fond of her.”