“Something to that effect.”
“Your wife serving up trouble for dinner? Is that why you’re in a club and not at home?”
Will shook his head. “I made an ass of myself today.”
“Oh, and that’s a problem? I thought you would have become used to the feeling by now.”
“To the devil with you. The problem is, I’ll do it all again.”
“I take it the lovely Lady Harriet is involved?”
Will nodded. “Is it wrong of me to want to keep her to myself?”
“Ah, newly wedded bliss. I’ll admit, it’s rather unfashionable to want to occupy all of your wife’s time. Unless it’s a love match, which is evenmoreunfashionable, and you know me, I’m nothing if not fashionable.”
“You are full of shite, that’s what you are.”
“To answer your question, I don’t think it’s wrong. Fashionable or not, it’s natural to want to be close to the person you fancy.” Calstone glanced at a few men laughing loudly several tables away. “Especially if there’s mischief afoot.” He turned back to Will. “Did you hear the betting book has been stolen?”
Will gave a nod. “Who hasn’t?”
“You’re not worried?”
“Should I be?” He had already plucked Harriet from the marriage mart. Also, he had told her about the wagers, though she hadn’t reacted to it the way he thought she might have. If she didn’t care, then Will wouldn’t care either. “I’ve more pressing matters to address anyway.”
“Such as?”
“My wife.”
Calstone chuckled. “Ah, yes, your obsession does seem to run deep. Do tell.”
Will explained the proceedings of the day, his reactions and fears, finally freeing his chest of its pressure.
“And that opinionated little thing saidnothing?”
“Don’t call my wife a little thing.”
“Very well, very well,” Calstone said lifting his hands in surrender. “Are you perhaps suffering from a case of separation distress? I’ve heard it often happens with mothers and their babies.”
“Balderdash.”
He did not suffer from separation distress or whatever Calstone called it. And he certainly wasn’t going to lay his soul down on a table in White’s for his friend to dissect.
“Come now, I’m merely trying to cheer you up.”
“How about leaving?”
“But then I can’t tell you about Mortimer.”
“The duke? What about him?”
“I heard he is on the hunt for the betting book, along with some other sots, but he’s been officially tasked by White’s.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You really haven’t been paying attention to what is happening here.”
“Like I said, I have more pressing matters.”
