Free The Hired Wife by Cari Hislop Page A

worn the same dress in case Buckingham shows up. The lunatic
probably doesn’t know which one of you he loves.”

    “Buckingham’s
coming? You should have told us. I’d have worn my blue and white
striped dress.”

    “I’d have worn
it, it doesn’t fit you Emily. You’re getting fat.”

    “I am not you
horrid cow. At least our brother appears to be happy this
morning…”

    Mary tried to
step out of her husband’s arms, but found herself held even
tighter. Morley’s lies were churning her stomach. The man was
giving her a knowing smile as if they shared a lurid secret. He
finally looked away towards the twins, “Perhaps one of you two
lovely ladies can persuade your brother to leave his bed behind and
come with us. He won’t listen to me.”

    Emily’s eyes
lit up. “Do come Marshall; we’re going to play games and eat
ourselves sick.”

    “I hate games
and sharing my food with ants.”

    “Oh Marshall,
don’t be such a stick in the mud…” Alyce poked him in the ribs.
“…if you must kiss Mary all day you can hide behind her
parasol.”

    “I’m not some
green youth desperate to make a public exhibition of myself.”

    “It’s useless
Henry; Marshall never does anything exciting, he’s boring.” Alyce
said the words in her brother’s face so he would hear. “I don’t
know how Mary can stand you. I’d have poisoned myself after
twenty-four hours of doing nothing. Henry says you were always old
and boring.”

    “Count your
blessings Alyce; I’m just your brother-guardian who has every hope
of throwing you into the arms of some wretch too besotted to
realise you’re a hussy.”

    Henry pressed a
benign expression into Marshall’s face, “You’ve been old since you
were born. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done was advertise
for a wife in the papers, a move I fear you’ll someday regret.”

    “It’s none of
your business if I regret hiring my wife and if I’m so boring, why
do you spend time in my company? Could it be you’re boring?”

    “Everyone has
dull moments Marshall, but I’ve never been a bore. I live to taste
all the pleasures life has to offer. I’m afraid your tongue is so
parched you’d drink anything, even muddy water.” Henry gave a
slight glance at Mary’s breasts and waited for the explosion.

    Marshall’s eyes
narrowed the veiled insult and hissed, “Leave before I pummel
you.”

    “To fall back
on violence when losing a debate is a sure sign of mental
impotence. You must be getting old before your time.”

    Lady Catherine
tapped her cane on the floor to get the room’s attention, “I’m
leaving. If you’re coming to my picnic get in my carriage,
otherwise stay here and bore yourselves to death. I plan to live
before I die.”

    “What did she
say?”

    “If people
don’t get in the carriage she’s leaving them behind.”

    “Good riddance!
When are they coming back?”

    “Lord Morley
says they’ll be back before dark.”

    “That should
give me a few hours of peace. Try to act like ladies, keep your
hats on and don’t wander off with Henry, he’s a rakehell.”

    “Marshall would
know.”

    “Oh Alyce; you
know Marshall isn’t anything like Henry. What’s wrong with you?
You’re turning into a shrew.”

    “Marshall’s a
boring old bag of wind and you know it.”

    “I hope Mary
doesn’t tell him what you just said, it would hurt his feelings.
You know he’s sensitive. Why must you be such a cow?”

    “I’m a realist.
If you wish to live in a fantasy world that’s your affaire…”

    Mary listened
to the conversation and wisely chose not to repeat it. She could
only hope Lord Buckingham was intelligent enough to choose the kind
Emily. As the front door closed on the noise outside Mary glanced
up at her husband still holding her in a vice like embrace. “Merry,
do you think I’m boring?”

    “Ask me in
three months.”

    “That is an
impertinent attempt to skirt the question.”

    “It’s a
reasonable