Molly took Nicole upstairs while the earl stood frozen in the foyer. He could hear the tinkle of Jane’s laughter drifting through the hallway. Happy laughter. The kind of laughter he did not hear in his own presence. He turned grimly to Thomas. “How long has Lindley been here?”
“Since just after you left, my lord,” Thomas said with a sniff of obvious disapproval.
He felt the surging anger. “You told him I had just left and would not return for an hour?”
“He wanted to see the lady Jane, my lord,” Thomas said.
The anger increased. And with it, jealousy and suspicion. So Lindley had come to see Jane, had he? It was damn convenient that Raversford had shown up while he was out. Had Lindley waited to see that he had left before coming? He pushed the rude thought away, telling himself to get a grip on his wayward suspicions. But damn if he’d be cuckolded in his own home by his own best friend!
He strode into the morning room.
They were seated on the same sofa, of course, about a foot apart. Lindley was telling a merry tale and Jane was all smiles. It was quite cozy, quite familiar. At his entrance, Lindley froze in midsentence, and Jane’s smiles abruptly ceased. Glad to see him, were they? The earl bared his teeth. “Hello, Lindley.”
Raversford stood. “Hullo, Shelton.” He didn’t smile either.
“This is a surprise,” the earl drawled sarcastically, his glance sweeping from Lindley to Jane. She was impossibly fetching in a pale-pink morning gown with her hair delicately put up, loose strands floating around her face. She was flushed too. From his kisses?
“Would you like some tea?” Jane asked politely.
“I’m afraid to interrupt,” he said bitingly, pinning Lindley now with his regard. “I am interrupting, aren’t I?”
Lindley shoved his hands in his pockets. “You’re not interrupting, Nick,” he said quietly.
“No? Funny, but this tête-à-tête seemed just that, made for two.” His eyes flashed silver.
“Don’t be a fool,” Jane flared, standing. “Your best friend came to pay his respects. I am your wife, and you were out. Should I have turned him away?”
“Should you have, Jane?” the earl demanded.
Lindley looked uncomfortable. “I think I’d best be going.”
Good idea, the earl wanted to shout furiously, but he did not. His gaze skewered him. “Suddenly in a rush? Please, stay. My wife seems to enjoy your company.” He mocked.
“I have several appointments,” Lindley said. He bowed over Jane’s hand. Fortunately, for his sake, he did not kiss it. He nodded uncertainly—guiltily?—at Nick, then left.
Jane clenched her fists, cheeks pinker now. “You were unbearably rude!”
“Rude? I invited him to stay longer.”
“You chased him away!”
“Did I upset your plans?” he asked dangerously.
“Plans? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“No? Why are you so angry—because Lindley left? Or because I returned?”
“You boor! I am angry because you’ve treated your good friend despicably. Because your behavior was unspeakably rude!” Jane cried.
“And why do you care how I behave?” He wanted her to reply that she did care about his behavior—because he was her husband. But he was disappointed.
“Why do I care? Because Lindley is our friend —and a guest in our home!”
“So Lindley is your friend too, Jane? Ah, how could I forget, he was dancing attendance on you before we wed. How could I forget? He knew where you were, and would not tell me. Knew of Nicole, and kept it from me. So intimate, weren’t we? Or is it aren’t we? And for how long has he been yourfriend?”
She gasped, recoiling. “You are disgusting!”
He clenched his fists to keep from grabbing her. “How long has he been your friend, Jane?”
