Free The Earl's Inconvenient Wife (Regency Collection Book 1) by Ruth Ann Nordin Page A

see something that you fancy, credit it to your husband’s account.  Don’t limit yourself.”
    “Only if I want it,” she said so her sister would ease up on insisting she buy something she didn’t need.
    Not that she was actually going to buy more than a bonnet.  There was no way she’d take her sister’s advice.  All she needed was to get into an argument with Roderick because she wasted his money.  She followed her sister out of the carriage, praying that the footman and butler didn’t make her shopping excursion sound more than it really was.
     
    ***
     
    Two hours later, Claire watched as her sister handed the footman another bag of items she’d bought at the store.  Her husband was going to kill her.  There was no way the footman would be quiet about the amount of clothes and accessories her sister “needed”.  Claire clutched her stomach, grateful she hadn’t eaten much that morning because if she had, she’d be vomiting right about now.
    While the footman put the bag next to the others in the carriage, Claire grabbed her sister’s hand and led her away from t he store entrance so no one mingling about would hear them.  “Lilly, you need to return most of those items.”
    “But I need all of these things.” Lilly patted her cheek and grinned.  “These things will make me so desirable the titled gentlemen won’t be able to resist me.  I’m famished. Let’s take my things to the townhouse and have a bite to eat before you return home?”
    Claire glanced at the stack of boxes and bags in the carriage.  Her stomach tightened.  There was no way she could eat anything.  Not while knowing her husband would most surely confront her about this.   Her sister might be enjoying this spending spree, but it was going to give her a heart attack…if Roderick didn’t strangle her first. 
    Lilly wrapped her hand around Claire’s arm and pulled her toward the carriage .  “Mother and Father would like to see you.”
    Claire considered her sister’s words and decided if she was going to see their parents, she might as well do it today.  “All right.” She got into the carriage, glad they wouldn’t be spending any more money.
    Lilly squeezed in next to her and waited for the footman to close the door before she clucked her tongue.  “One would swear you married a commoner by the way you’re acting.  You can’t tell me your husband doesn’t have the money.  Word around the Ton is that he’s got more than enough.  All the gifts you’ve so kindly bestowed upon me make him look good.  A couple of notable ladies saw what he got me today.”
    Claire groaned.
    With a sigh, she said, “Your husband has more than enough.  He’s better off than some titled gentleman are.  I mean, who would you have married instead of him if given the chance?”
    “I thought Lord Clement was nice.”
    Her sister stared at her for a moment and then laughed.  “The one with the limp?  Granted, he has a lot of money, but he’s hardly suitable for marriage.”
    “That’s a terrible thing to say.”
    “I’m only voicing what other ladies are saying.” Lilly leaned forward and inspected one of her ankle boots.  “Do you think we have time to see if a cobbler can fix my sole?”
    “I can’t believe you, Lilly.”
    “What?  It’s starting to come off.  You know how dreadful finding a comfortable boot can be, and these are my best pair.”
    “No, it’s not that.  It’s about Lord Clement.  He was very nice, and I believe he’d make a good husband.”
    “But you’re married to Lord Roderick.”
    Exasperated, she rolled her eyes.  “Because I fell a nd he was helping me up.  You and Father came out and told everyone the worst was happening.  I had no intention of marrying him.” Just how many times did she have to keep saying that?
    “Regardless of the circumstances, y ou are married to him and marriage is permanent.  Oh!  Unless you plan to be discreet in your affair with Lord