She knew that her plea was going unheeded and in a different tone she said,
“Surely you cannot have become overnight so prim and proper that you now consider a wife must be unswervingly faithful to her husband?”
As she threw back her head she added coldly,
“If that is the truth, then all I can say is that you will be the laughing stock of everyone in London.”
“To be accurate, of a certain section of the Society to which you belong,” the Earl countered. “My answer is quite simply, let them laugh!”
Lady Maureen gave a scream.
“What you are really saying, Oscar, is that you are tired of me and I no longer attract you.”
She spoke as if such an idea was unthinkable, but the Earl replied slowly,
“You are a very attractive woman, Maureen, but I find it unpleasant to think that I am steali
