Page 118 of The Quiet Wife
“Frilthy? Is that a word?”
“It is now. It alludes to his taste for frilled shirts. I suspect he is going to ruin me.”
“Can… can he do that?”
Jemie looked at the ceiling, then back at her. “He’s going to bankrupt me. It’s already begun. I think he’s buying up the debts that I have and demanding settlement.”
“You must let me help you! I have money, I can…”
“No,” he said firmly and touched her cheek.
The room suddenly felt oppressive. What had been something fabulous now pressed on her unbearably. “Why don’t we take a walk? It’s cold but fine. I think it might do us all good.”
He shook his head. “I had a letter from your husband forbidding me to be seen with you. Apparently, there have been rumours. About us.”
Frances was open mouthed with shock, believing them to have been completely discreet. “Rumours? What rumours?”
“He doesn’t like the rumours. He said that if we are seen out together again, he will horsewhip me.” He twitched a shoulder in a small shrug. “I’m wondering what else he can do to me. He’s attacked my reputation, he’s trying to bankrupt me, and he has the woman I love. What else is there?”
She tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t bear it. Couldn’t bear to see him like this.
“Run away with me,” he urged her softly.
Frances’ eyes stung. “You know I cannot.”
“You realise he’s got another woman now, don’t you?”
Frankly, she didn’t, but neither did she care.
He pursed his lips. “He’s wholly abandoned Rosa Caldicott. She is living separately from her husband and is with child. Fred’s taken up with a woman called Annie Wooster.”
Frances had never heard of Annie Wooster.
“Jemie…” She pressed her fingertips to her forehead.
“Perhaps we should take that walk? Let’s see if he really will horsewhip me. I imagine he’d like to try.”
“Jemie, please.” He was trying to pick an argument with her. She couldn’t bear arguments at the best of times, and certainly didn’t want to argue with Jemie, especially when she knew it was not her he was really quarrelling with.
“Please what? Please walk with me or please go away and pretend nothing happened between us?”
She was shaking. “Stop it,” she managed. “Stop it now.”
“Stop what?”
Something inside her broke wide open. “Just stop it! Stop pushing me. Stop being angry withmewhen it’s Frederick you are angry with. Stop pretending that I have achoicein this.” She threw the words at him, tears forming.
Shock registered on his face momentarily, then settled into something infinitely sad. “There is always a choice. You just don’t want to make it.”
“That iscompletelyunfair. How am I supposed to run away with you? Leave my children to his tender mercies? Leave them and my sister to suffer the consequences of my actions? You’ve seen what he’s like. You know what he will do. What is it youexpectof me?” she pleaded.
He looked away and shrugged. “I don’t know. Loyalty?”
The word echoed around her head and stole her breath. They stared at each other, neither finding any words.
Frances made a decision. She lifted her chin. “Then let us go for that walk.”
CHAPTER 39
