Read Online The Earl's Inconvenient Wife (Regency Collection Book 1) by Ruth Ann Nordin - Free Book Online Page B

to leave but then spun on her heel and motioned to the table by her bed.  “Lord Roderick left you a note.”
    Claire waited for Marion to leave before she went to the note and read it.  In it, he said he opened an account for her at a clothing store .  She glanced at her wardrobe.  She couldn’t think of anything she needed, except for maybe a nice bonnet.
    She put the note down and had breakfast.  Afterwards, she went to the drawing room, hoping Lilly could spend the day with her.  She didn’t see any reason why her sister wouldn’t.  Since she had nothing else to do, she decided to write about the past few days, pouring her worries and frustrations onto paper so she wouldn’t have to keep them bottled up inside.
    When she was done, s he went upstairs to change into another dress while she waited for her sister to arrive.  Once she heard her sister arrive, she hurried downstairs.  When she reached the drawing room, she called out to her sister who was staring out the window.
    Lilly turned toward her an d smiled in excitement.  “What a wonderful townhouse! I bet you can’t wait to see Lord Roderick’s estate.”
    Claire glanced uneasily at the butler, hoping her husband wouldn’t hear about this because if he did, he’d surely be upset.  This would only confirm what he thought about her.  Hoping to change the topic, she walked over to her sister and asked, “Is there anything you’d like to do today?”
    “I wouldn’t mind shopping.”
    Claire had been thinking of doing something scenic, but by the hopeful expression in her sister’s eyes, she figured they would do what she wanted.  “All right.”
    Lilly clasped her hands excitedly.  “Oh good!  I was hoping you’d say yes.”
    Claire shot the butler another look.  The butler wouldn’t feel it necessary to talk to her husband about her sister’s excitement over shopping, would he?  She tried to think of something she might say so it didn’t look like her sister came over to spend his money.  After a moment of watching Lilly examine the fabric on the curtains, she ventured, “Did Father give you spending money?”
    Lilly’s eyebrows furrowed.  “Did Father give me spending money?” She laughed and shook her head.  “Why would he do that?”
    Claire sighed in disappointment.  No matter how things proceeded from here, it wouldn’t look good.  Her husband already assumed the worst, and her sister suggesting they shop with her money only supported what he thought.  Before Lilly could say anything else to make her look bad, she motioned to the door.  “All right, but it must be something small and inexpensive.”
    “Of cour se!  You don’t need to tell me twice.”
    Unable to make eye contact with the butler, Claire followed her sister out of the room.  At the front door, she took the hat the butler handed her, still avoiding eye contact with him.  She muttered a weak thank you before slipping out of the house with her sister.  The footman opened the carriage door and helped them into it.  She informed the footman where her husband had told her to shop.  With a nod, he shut the door.
    Thankful to get a reprieve from Lord Roderick’s townhouse, even if it was for a couple of hours, she collapsed in her seat.  She hadn’t realized she felt as if she was on pins and needles while in that house.
    Lilly wiggled with excitement and clasped her hands together in her lap.  “This is wonderful, Claire!  That townhouse you live in is gorgeous.  There are servants everywhere.  And you can buy whatever you want!”
    “I can’t buy my husband’s affections, Lilly.”
    She waved her hand, dismissing the comment.  “Affections won’t put food on the table or a roof over your head.  You have an ideal setup.  Don’t worry about things you can’t see or touch.  Emotions are fleeting.  Here one day, gone the next.  What you need to do is focus on what’ll last.  Your husband will pass on his title to your son, and if