“Because for weeks, every one of your moods has been caused by that gimcrack. She has you wrapped around her finger butgood. It’s like you’re already married and living under the cat’s foot.”
Matthew started to laugh at the funny little phrase about a henpecked husband.
“More like a kitten’s paw,” he muttered. “I may as well enjoy it as a single man because I don’t think the gimcrack, as you so crassly call her, is ever going to become my Lady Foxford.”
“Why? What did you do?”
Matthew slapped the table, echoing the sound her hand had made. “That’s the rub. I don’t know. Not a clue. One minute we were kissing and going out to the shops, the next, she was calling me a liar.”
Quinn poured himself a glass of brandy from the near-empty bottle.
“Hm.I’ve never thought of you as a liar.”
“Thank you,” Matthew said, drawing the bottle back to his side of the table and tipping the dregs into his mouth. “Another,” he called out to the waiter.
“You’re speaking to a floor lamp,” Quinn said.
“Blast!” He looked again. No wonder the chap hadn’t moved the last two times he’d demanded more liquor. “I don’t think the lamp knows where the best brandy is stored.”
He started to laugh and couldn’t stop.
Quinn joined in, but soon they both fell into silence.
“What am I to do?” Matthew asked.
“About what exactly?”
Matthew groaned. “About Purity Diamond, of course? About mykitten?”
“Whoa, old boy,” Quinn exclaimed. “Don’t say too much now, will you? You’ll regret it tomorrow.”
“Probably.”
“Do you love her?” his friend asked.
“Even drunk as an emperor, I’m not so spoony that I don’t know the answer. Yes, I love her.”
Quinn sighed. “I was afraid of that.”
Matthew started to laugh again. “Why?” Everything seemed either amusing or tragic.
“Because it means I shall have to help you. I know you would help me in similar circumstances.”
“She slapped me,” he said. “Three times so far. Or was it four?”
“Then she must love you, too, or she wouldn’t let you near her that many times to offend her.”
“She doesn’t trust me,” Matthew said. “Not regarding other women.”
“One can hardly blame her. You know what you need?”
“More brandy?” Matthew asked hopefully. “Weren’t we going to get some gin?”
“No, the headache isn’t worth it. You need to get in good with her family. What about her eldest sister, the one who got married while you were away?”
“Does she have gin?” Matthew wondered if he was going to die of thirst.
“No, old chum, but she probably has some sway. Convince her you love Lady Purity, and your troubles will be over.”
