The wife of a substantive peer is legally entitled to the privileges of peerage: she is said to have a ''life estate'' in her husband's dignity. Thus a duke's wife is titled a ''duchess'', a marquess's wife a ''marchioness'', an earl's wife a ''countess'', a viscount's wife a ''viscountess'' and a baron's wife a ''baroness''. Despite being referred to as a ''peeress'', she is not a peer in her own right: this is a 'style' and not a substantive title. However, this is considered a legal title, unlike the social titles of a peer's children.
Answer this question, making sure that the answer is supported by the text: is the wife of an earl a countess?

Options are: * no. * yes.
yes