Page 2 of The Senator's Wife

“You look surprised.” She gave a bitter laugh. “He’s discreet, I’ll give him that. But all those late nights, the weekends at work. All bullshit.”

“We’re both married to senators, Peg. Those late nights and weekends come with the territory. You know that. Senate sessions run long, votes run over. Everyone in DC works those crazy hours. That doesn’t mean someone’s having an affair.”

Peg’s eyes were cold. “That’s true for Robert. He would never look at another woman. He worships you, so how could you possibly understand? But Whit’s different. I know he’s been sleeping with Madelyn Sawyer for over a year now.”

“What?” Sloane knew the woman, as did anyone who was anyone in DC. Madelyn Sawyer was a barracuda—smart, rich, and powerful, with a voracious appetite for equally powerful men. But surely Peg was wrong. She’d always been jealous, and having a husband who looked like Whit didn’t help. He was fit and toned, with thick dark hair and a face that looked as though it had been sculpted by one of the masters. Robert, blond and blue-eyed, was good-looking, but Whit was startlingly handsome. Journalists seemed unable to resist mentioning his “movie star good looks,” as trite as the expression was.

“Are you sure about this?”

Peg leaned forward, so close that Sloane could smell the wine on her breath. “He denies it, but I know he’s lying, and I’m going to prove it. And when I do, Whit is going to be one sorry son of a bitch.”

Sloane sighed, wondering if Peg, who seemed to revel in discord, could be mistaken. She’d been a witness to Peg’s jealousy andpossessiveness over the years and had often wondered how Whit was able to put up with her. On more than one occasion, Peg had caused a scene at parties when she’d had too much to drink and thought Whit was paying too much attention to another woman—even if he was just making polite small talk. “Maybe it’s not what you think. Madelyn and Fred Sawyer have both been supportive of Whit’s Senate campaigns. Maybe that’s all it is. I’ve never seen them together, and I’ve never heard one word of gossip to that effect. Don’t you think Robert would know if that were going on? The two of them are so close.”

Peg huffed. “I know what I know. And besides, Whit wouldn’t be foolish enough to tell Robert. I may have been wrong in the past, but this time I can feel it in my gut.” She took another long swallow from her glass. “After my parents died, things got worse. I know now, he only married me for my money.”

Sloane frowned. Everyone had been surprised when Peg’s parents left their millions to charity through the Giving Pledge, but for Peg it was the final cruel act of parents who had been cold and disapproving, and for whom she could never measure up. Robert had always looked out for his ill-treated younger cousin and took on the role of Peg’s protector. He was always there, and when she and Whit became engaged, Robert had been both pleased and relieved. But even after Peg was married and seemingly settled, her father never stopped referring to her as the drama queen of the family. And when she failed to produce a grandchild, her parents had essentially disinherited her.

“Sloane, are you listening to me?”

“Yes, sorry.”

Peg scowled. “He was furious when I took the little money they left us to buy our house, so you know what he did? He took the insurance money we got for Dad’s World Time watch that burned in the fire and bought himself that damn Porsche. Without even asking me.”

“I’m sorry you’re so upset. Why don’t I ask Robert to talk toWhit? In the meantime, try to put it aside for now. It won’t do you any good to keep accusing Whit with no proof. Maybe you two should consider seeing a marriage counselor.”

Peg closed her eyes and put her head in her hands. Then without saying another word, she stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Sloane shaken. Peg had always been overly fond of her wine, and on many of the weekends she and Whit had been guests at the beach house, Peg awakened with a hangover. Whit had confided to Robert that Peg’s drinking was getting worse, that she was becoming increasingly argumentative and combative. Had her drinking reached the point where she’d become paranoid, convincing herself of things that weren’t true? But what if itwastrue? Sloane would keep her eyes and ears open to any hint of gossip about Whit and Madelyn. As much as she liked and respected Whit, she wouldn’t dismiss Peg’s belief out of hand. How awful it must be, though, to live day to day in such a troubled marriage.

She walked to the sunroom and stood, looking out at the beach as Robert and Whit walked back toward the house, Whit’s face animated and his hands gesturing. Robert was nodding as he listened. She couldn’t hear what Whit was saying, but could tell from his body language that he was disturbed. Before they might notice her watching them, Sloane returned to the kitchen and began loading the dishwasher, when the sound of a ringtone got her attention—it was coming from Whit’s phone sitting on the counter next to her. She glanced over and drew a breath when she saw the name on the screen:Madelyn Sawyer.

- 2 -

WHIT

Despite Whit’s attempts to calmly talk things out with Peg, she’d been cold and belligerent since their blowup at the beach two weeks ago. He’d suggested they take some time apart, but Peg wouldn’t hear of it. Now, as he pulled into the driveway, he frowned. What was Robert’s car doing here? Leaving his golf clubs in the Porsche, he quickened his pace, anxious to see what was going on.

“Peg?” he called out as he entered the hallway, but she didn’t answer. He heard voices coming from the living room. There he found Peg sitting on the sofa, a crumpled tissue in her hand, her face mottled, and her eyes wet with tears. Robert looked up as Whit entered the room, his expression somber.

“What’s going on? What are you doing here, Robert?” Whit asked.

“Peg called me this morning and asked me to come over. As you can see, she’s quite upset,” Robert said.

Whit sighed and, walking over to the bar cart, poured himself a bourbon. He sat in one of the chairs across from the sofa and leaned forward, his gaze fixed on his wife. “What’s wrong now, Peg?”

Her eyes were blazing with pure hatred, her lips pressed together in suppressed fury. Whit closed his eyes and rubbed his fingers across his forehead, wearied by the expression on her face and the unending loathing that greeted him every night.

“You really are a complete shit,” she said. “But why should it surprise me given that you’re such a damn liar?” She got up andleft the room, coming back in a minute with a folder, which she thrust at him. “I’ve been having you followed for a month now. It’s all there. Photos of you and Madelyn. Records of conversations between the two of you. I knew you were lying! All this time trying to make me believe I’m imagining things.” She ground out the words through clenched teeth.

“You hired a detective to follow me? How dare you!” Whit grabbed the file from her and scanned the contents. The photos showed him and Madelyn at various public places looking very cozy, but they proved nothing. He threw down the folder. “Look, you know I’ve had to spend time with her, flatter her a little to get her support, but that’s all it is.”

Robert shook his head. “I thought you were better than this.”

Peg snatched the glass of wine from the table, downed it in one gulp, and hurled the empty glass across the room, where it crashed against the exposed brick wall and shattered. “The report,” she said. “It shows you going into a suite at the Salamander hotel and staying for hours. You’re not talking your way out of this!”

Whit sank into a chair and put his head in his hands. He was so tired of fighting with her. “Yes, I went to the Salamander, but it was to meet with MadelynandFred. I’ve told you that before. He doesn’t typically like to meet at his house. You shouldn’t have involved Robert in your paranoid fantasies. Do you want me to air all your dirty laundry in front of your cousin? How you’re always drunk, and half the time I don’t know where you are? You’re the one who’s been cheating onmefor years.”

“What the hell are you talking about, you liar!You’rethe cheater, not me.”

He turned to Robert. “Do you have any idea what I’ve had to put up with all these years? Her drunken rages? The constant accusations. I’ve had it with your crazy cousin.”

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