Do work for husband (8)
I believe the answer is:
conserve
'husband' is the definition.
('conserve' can be a synonym of 'husband')
'do work' is the wordplay.
'do' becomes 'con'.
'work' becomes 'serve' (serving is a kind of working**).
'con'+'serve'='CONSERVE'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for conserve that I've seen before include "Protect from destruction" , "Keep from decay for future use" , "Use cautiously and frugally" , "Keep (in original state)" , "Protect; maintain" .)