Page 86 of The Study of Seduction

“Where’s my wife?” Edwin asked, looking beyond her for the minx who drove him insane even when she wasn’t nearby.

Yvette smiled. “She’ll be down shortly. But Jeremy and I are leaving for London.”

“What?” Jeremy said. “But we just got here!”

“Yes, and we interrupted their honeymoon. So now we’re leaving again.”

Edwin didn’t know what to make of that. Had Clarissa said anything to his sister? Or was Yvette, as usual, simply better at reading people and situations than he was?

Jeremy scowled. “Just like that? Without any dinner? We haven’t even had lunch yet!”

“It’s fine if you wish to stay a bit longer,” Edwin put in, taking pity on his brother-in-law. “We keep country hours, so you’d still have plenty of time to dine and return to the city before it got too late. I think Clarissa already told Cook to expect two more.”

Yvette began putting on her gloves. “AndItold Cook we wouldn’t be here. So it’s settled.”

“But . . . but . . .” Jeremy sputtered.

“Cook has already made up a cold collation for us,” she went on matter-of-factly, “including some of her special apple tarts.”

That brought a change to Jeremy’s face. “Freshly baked apple tarts, eh?” He rose. “You should have mentioned that in the beginning.”

“Our cook does make exceptionally fine apple tarts,” Edwin said as he, too, rose, his head spinning at the sudden change in plans.

Jeremy winked at him. “Sorry to leave you in the lurch. But I daresay you won’t mind being sentenced to more time alone with your lovely wife.”

“No,” Edwin said. Though he honestly didn’t know what to do with her. Especially now.

“Go on, darling,” Yvette said to Jeremy. “I’ll be along in a moment. I just need a few words with my brother.”

That didn’t sound good. Edwin braced himself for anything as she came around the desk. When she merely gave him a kiss on the cheek, he let out a relieved breath. “I’m glad you’re back in England,” he admitted.

“So am I. I missed you. And Clarissa.” She seized his hand. “Be careful with her.”

“Of course,” he said tersely. “Why would I be anything else?”

“Because you can be a bull in a china shop sometimes, and despite all her boldness, Clarissa is the finest Wedgwood. So treat her with kid gloves, will you?”

He bristled. “How I handle my wife is none of your concern.” When her eyes narrowed, he regretted speaking so sharply, but blast it, the idea of her and Clarissa talking over his . . . inadequacies made his blood boil. “What nonsense did she tell you about me, anyway?”

Her gaze grew shuttered. “Nothing of any consequence.”

“I am not some monster, you know,” he grumbled.

“Of course you aren’t,” she said soothingly. “Andshecertainly doesn’t think you are.” Her gaze grew steely. “All the same, if you ruin things with her by being your typical blunt self, I shall never forgive you.”

As usual, Yvette thought everything washisfault. “Didn’t you say something about returning to London?”

Perversely, that made his meddling sister laugh. “I’m going, I’m going.” She headed for the door. “I understand that Lady Margrave is throwing a grand fete to celebrate your wedding, and Jeremy and I are invited. So I’ll see you there in a week.”

The thought of how extravagant an affair Clarissa’s mother was probably planning made him shudder. “I can’t wait,” he said sarcastically.

Yvette paused in the doorway, her eyes gleaming at him. “And here Clarissa was trying to tell me that you could be fun. I should have known better than to believe her.”

By the time her words registered fully, his sister had already waltzed out into the hall.

“Wait!” he called out as he hurried after her. “Clarissa really said I wasfun?”

Having reached the entrance door, Yvette paused to blow him a kiss. “See you next week!” Then she was gone.