Wife Errant Read Free Page B

he will hoot to hear it.”
    “It is about Esmée and Papa—and Mama—that I have come, Lady Revel.”
    The dame patted Tess’s hand and tsked. “It will pass, my dear. Your papa is always taken by a new petticoat, but he soon tires of them and comes home with his tail between his legs. I never paid any heed to my husband’s flirts. Iwelcomed the respite.”
    “This time it is different,”Tess said. “Mama iscarrying on with a gentleman as well.”
    Lady Revel listened and nodded. “Good for her. I don’t see why a wronged wife ought not to enjoy a few discreet delinquencies, if she has a taste for it. A handsome widower, I wager? A widower will always work his way with older ladies.”
    “No, he is not a widower. Mama says she will divorce Papa, and with Dulcie about to make her bows next spring, the scandal will be horrid. Indeed people are already whispering, Lady Revel. Dulcie and I have not been to a single assembly or party since Mama began going about with this gentleman.”
    “Selfish creature! She and Lyle are from the same basket. But the divorce is only a threat, depend upon it. Louise Marchant has always been a pea-goose, but she is not fool enough to try to divorce her husband. Who is the scoundrel she is seeing?”
    “It’s Lord James Drake. That is why I came to you, hoping you would speak to him.”
    Lady Revel drew a long, exasperated sigh. “I might have guessed! They were rolling their eyes at each other when he visited me last summer. The devil of it is, James never pays any heed to me. He would cut up all the harder to spite me. He was the baby of the family, you must know, and was always spoiled rotten.”She furrowed her brow in thought and said, “Who he might listen to is Anthony. There is no point talking morality to James, but if he could be convinced it is bad ton, he would desist.”
    “Is Lord Revel at home?”Tess asked as calmly as she could. She felt a nervous churning to ask for an interview with Revel. She was by no means on those same easy terms with him as with his mama. He spent considerably less time at Revel Hall, and when he was there, he usually brought his company with him. Revel was not such a high stickler that he avoided the local do’s, at which he was sure to stand up with his neighbor, but the Marchants were not invited to his private parties.
    “I didn’t see him go out. I’ll ask Figgs.”She hollered into the hall, as the bell cord required rising from her comfortable sofa.
    A butler who looked strangely like a bulldog in a jacket appeared at the doorway. “You screeched, your ladyship?”
    Lady Revel explained to her guest, “I owe Figgs a guinea. He beat me roundly at faro last night, and is feeling full of himself.”She turned to Figgs, “No, Master Jackanapes, I did not screech. I hollered. Send Lord Revel to me.”
    “His lordship is in the bath, madam. And it was a guinea and tuppence. You promised a tuppence for the use of my cards.”
    “You never pay me tuppence when we use my cards. Haul Anthony out and send him down.”
    “His lordship dislikes to be interrupted at the bath.”
    “This is a matter of urgency, Figgs. And bring us some fresh tea. Bohea, mind. This tastes like dishwater.”
    Figgs picked up the tray and marched from the room. “Figgs might possibly be my cousin Gerald’s by-blow,”Lady Revel explained. “This is Gerald Drake’s house we are using, while Gerald is in London. Figgs was landed on Gerald as a babe. Gerald never knew quite what to do with him. I do not see any trace of the Drakes in him. I believe he was foisted on my cousin in error, or by design. In any case, he is a good cardplayer, but a wretched butler.”
    They chatted about Bath doings until the tea arrived, and close behind it came Lord Revel, wearing a navy flannel dressing gown with a white towel around his neck. His wet hair was all askew, and his feet encased in slippers knitted by his mama.
    “Anthony!”his mama exclaimed. “Good God, is