Page 36 of Earl, Enemy, Husband?

She bit her lip. ‘Those are to wear for the next couple of weeks until she is able to make more…suitable ones. Your mother insisted. And today we bought ten pairs of gloves.’

‘I see. I am sure Mother knows best.’

‘Are you?’

‘Am I what?’

‘Are you sure it is all right? It all seems terribly extravagant.’

Did she think he could not afford to clothe his wife in the manner due her station? Or that he would begrudge her proper attire? ‘Well, you certainly can’t go about in what you wore in the country. Mother said the gown you wore to your wedding looked like it had been made over from the last century.’

Her shoulders stiffened. She glared at him, almost defiantly. ‘It was my mother’s and I wanted to wear it. I liked it.’ She bit her lip briefly, and he wanted to kiss the spot her teeth had nibbled. Damn; he needed to get his mind back on track.

She took a quick breath and continued. ‘But I am not talking about before. I am talking about all of the items I have been ordering these past few weeks.’

Her spirited response reminded him of her old self. The one who refused to be browbeaten. He wanted to smile. However, clearly she was worried, and he would not have her think he was taking her concerns lightly.

‘Do you not like Mother’s choices?’

‘There is nothing wrong with her choices, I suppose,’ she said grudgingly. ‘I would not have ordered so many pairs, that is all. Or so many gowns. I don’t wish you to think I am taking advantage of your generosity.’

His generosity, was it? He was her husband. ‘It will do my reputation no good at all if my wife is seen walking about in rags.’

She stiffened. ‘I have never walked around in rags.’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘No. I don’t, actually.’

‘I mean you need to dress like all the other fellows’ wives. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m nip cheese, or worse yet, that I can’t afford my wife to have the best.’ Likely Eloise would think he was poor, and that would not suit his purpose at all. ‘Everyone will think—’

‘Do you care so much what others think? I could have stayed home until the gowns I ordered made were ready.’

Damn it. ‘You are making too much of a fuss over this. I told Mother you should spend whatever she thought was needed to turn you out in prime style, and that is what she is doing.’

‘You told your mother?’

‘Yes.’

‘When?’

‘I went to visit her the day she arrived to make sure everything in her new house was to her liking and we discussed it then.’

‘Why did you not discuss it with me?’

There was a certain amount of steel in that calm voice that gave him pause. What was the matter with the woman? She ought to be in awe at being able to buy whatever her little heart wanted. ‘I’m telling you now.’

Her mouth set in a grim line. ‘So you are. And I can buy whatever I please.’

‘If Mother approves.’

‘And if she doesn’t?’

Now the steel was at a dangerous level. God, he loved it when she showed her inner strength. Perhaps he shouldn’t goad her, but he could not seem to help himself. ‘You did agree you would take her advice when it came to learning how to go on, remember?’

She narrowed her eyes. ‘She says I will need a carriage to drive out in and a horse to ride.’

Testing his resolve… Hah. ‘I already have the horse in hand.’