Housewives' Countess: Split Has Been Difficult

LuAnn de Lesseps opens about the count, doing another season of Real Housewives and why she'd

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps' book debut, Class With the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair, isn't even on sale yet, but she's already working on a follow up.

"It's going to be more about how you start over," the Real Housewives of New York City star told me this morning.

Starting over is something she's getting well acquainted with these days. Late last month, LuAnn's husband, Count Alex, ended their 16-year marriage with an email explaining he was involved with another woman.

"There's a mourning period right now," the countess explained. "I'm going through the stages of what every breakup might be. It's been difficult, but I will get to the other side. Once one door closes, the other door's opening."

Throughout her book (think a modern-day guide to etiquette à la Emily Post), LuAnn gushes over Alex, calling him one of the most elegant men she has ever met and remembering that she knew they would get married within days of meeting.

She has no plans to amend the book in any future printings. "He's a wonderful man," she said. "We've had problems, and things have happened. We're going through a tough time…We're going to remain friends and do the right thing for our kids."

Doing the right thing is exactly what her book is about. Topics range from cell-phone use in restaurants to addressing—what else?—royalty. "I'm just tired of people behaving badly and seeing people treated badly," she explained.

Despite all the talk about the Obamas recent royal run-ins, she says the president and the first lady handled themselves correctly when they met with the Queen of England. They do not have to follow traditional protocol, because they are not subjects of Elizabeth II.

When asked which fellow Housewife has the most class (besides herself, of course), she laughed, "I'm not going there, Marc. I'm not going there."

As for a third season of Housewives, she said, "I'm thinking about it. We haven't been approached yet, but I'm sure we will be."

When we talked, LuAnn was packing for a trip to Los Angeles. She talked excitedly about going to Dancing With the Stars and having meetings about future projects.

She'd love to host a game show. "The Dating Game would be so great," she said with another laugh. "Could you imagine The Countess doing The Dating Game? That would be my dream."

A newly single countess in a room full of bachelors? Sounds like the perfect way to get over a breakup.