The Proper Wife by Julia Justiss

Author:Julia Justiss [Justiss, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, General, Historical, England, Great Britain
ISBN: 9780263215991
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2001-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

F or the first part of the drive back to Grosvenor Square, Clarissa occupied herself with soothing Lord Alastair’s ruffled sensibilities. Distressed already by her neglecting him to drive with not one but two military gentlemen, he’d been nearly beside himself, she could tell, when she cavalierly invited the lieutenant to what had initially been their private theatre party.

Having the lieutenant attend the event as one of her group would forward their designs on Lady Barbara’s peace of mind—but not nearly as well as if Lieutenant Standish were her sole escort. So of course, he must be. Listening to Alastair with one ear, Clarissa contemplated how best to inform her erstwhile suitor that she’d just decided to replace him as her evening’s primary escort.“Robert, thank you for stepping in to bring me home. I know it inconvenienced you, and—”

“Nonsense. No service I could do you would ever be an inconvenience. Especially not one that allows me to stand here so close beside you. Clare, you know I’d—”

That sounding dangerously like the lead-in to another proposal, she hastily interrupted, “I know. Which is why it is beastly to ask you for another favor.”

Cut off in mid-oratory, he groped for words. “F-favor? What sort of favor?”

“Nothing arduous, but my asking it at this late juncture is rather rude. Robert, I’d like you to let Lieutenant Standish escort me to the theatre tonight in your stead. Only Lieutenant Standish.”

She saw surprise in his eyes—and then a pain that smote her conscience. “You no longer wish my company?” he asked quietly.

“It isn’t that! I’ve undertaken a sort of—mission to help Lieutenant Standish, but ’tis a rather delicate matter. You will divulge nothing of what I tell you, I trust?”

Still looking stricken, he nodded a little stiffly. “Of course not.”

“Lieutenant Standish is enamored of a certain young lady who, though she once gave evidence of returning his regard, has been rather fickle of late. I convinced the lieutenant a bit of jealousy might help her discover her true feelings, so for a few days I’m making a show of being seen with him as frequently and publicly as possible. So you can understand ’twould advance my purposes better if he alone escorted me. Will you assist in the plan?”

“Is it just show?”

“Of course. He’s charming, but as you noted, rather young, and in any event he’s in love with another lady.”

Alastair was silent a moment, long enough to make Clarissa feel guilty for asking. Finally, with a sigh he nodded. “If you wish it, of course I shall do my possible to assist. Though I consider giving up an evening in your company a great sacrifice.”

“Then I shall have to see you are amply rewarded.”

“I shall hold you to that.”

Uneasy with the warmth her jesting comment brought to Alastair’s eyes, Clarissa noted with relief that they’d reached Grosvenor Square. “Ah, home at last. Would you hand me down?”

Too impatient by now to fend off the amorous advances she suspected Robert would make, could he

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