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ensconced at Coventry? It remained hard to think of her as his wife.

    Several hours later Jason entered White’s and spotted Drake, whom he had been searching for most of the evening. The Marquess had comfortably established himself in a substantial chair, his long legs stretched in front of him, his ankles crossed. He swirled amber liquid in a cut crystal snifter and smiled lazily at his friend.
    “I wondered where you had got off to.” Jason sat across from him and signaled the footman to bring him a drink.
    “Been here only an hour or so. Spent the best part of the night dodging the marriage-minded mamas at the Onslow ball.”
    “Can’t say I’m sorry I missed it.” Jason leaned back and accepted a glass from the footman. He stared into the fireplace, thinking about his earlier conversation with the solicitor.
    Drake studied his friend’s demeanor. “Indeed, since you are already leg-shackled.” When Jason didn’t respond to his jest, he said, “What are you looking so somber about?”
    Jason studied the liquid in his snifter for a minute before answering. “Sent for my solicitor today.”
    “And?”
    Jason quaffed a healthy swallow and looked at Drake. “I asked him to investigate the possibility of an annulment.”
    Drake didn’t answer, but continued to stare at him, which allowed him time to gather his thoughts.
    Jason put the glass down, and closing his eyes, rotated his neck. “I don’t know what to do. I feel immense guilt toward the woman, but then anger pushes away the guilt, because I shouldn’t even be in this blasted position.”
    “Neither should she. Why don’t you give the chit a chance? Go to Coventry, talk to her. It may turn out you like her. You may even suit.”
    Jason ran his fingers through his hair and grimaced. “You’ve hit on the problem. I don’t feel as though she will be too eager to give me a chance. If she doesn’t hate me by now, there’s something the matter with her.” He sighed. “And then there’s the lovely Lady Olivia forever taunting me in the back of my mind.”
    “Forget her, old man. She’s an innocent, and no one you should be dabbling with.”
    “Don’t you think I know that?” Jason snapped. “I’ve been trying to avoid her. I assume she was at Onslow’s tonight?”
    “Yes.” Drake’s eyes glowed with suppressed mirth. “Surrounded by young bucks, all jockeying for a position. The lady had a partner for every dance.”
    Jason’s jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists. The thought of Lady Olivia in the arms of another man made him want to punch something. He shook his head in wonder, never having had that reaction over a woman before.
    Better get hold of yourself. You’ve a wife to contend with first.
    “And a strange thing.” Jason sat forward. “My solicitor tells me Lady Coventry has not requested any funds the entire time she’s been in residence.”
    Drake’s left eyebrow rose a fraction. “She’s not asked for anything?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Hmm. Perhaps you should not be so quick to rid yourself of a wife who requires so little.” He grinned.
    “I’m serious. Something doesn’t seem right.”
    “Agreed. You should see the stack of bills arriving daily at m’sire’s desk for m’sisters’ gowns, shoes and whatnots.”
    Jason smiled at the vision of His Grace buried under a sea of demands for payment from the tradesmen in town.
    “Can I suggest something?” Drake rose.
    Jason looked up at him. “What’s that?”
    “Take a trip to Coventry. Talk to the woman. If it’s an annulment you desire, maybe she’ll be just as anxious to be rid of an absent husband as you are to be rid of an unwanted wife.”
    Jason rubbed the nape of his neck. “It appears that’s the only thing I can do. It’s also time for me to meet with my estate manager anyway.”

Chapter Seven
    Rain fell in torrents as the crested carriage rose to the top of the hill, then traveled the distance to the front entrance of Coventry Manor.