I don't see anything wrong with having friends of the opposite sex, however, COMPLETE transparency is needed in such situations. Your husband has been a lying, manipulative arse. If everything was on the up-and-up, he wouldn't feel the need to hide his female friends from you.

I have a friend who is married, and I would never do anything to come between him and his wife. I assume that she has access to all of his communications with me, and as such, I have no problems with it, none at all. That is, that's how it should be, no secrets whatsoever. I don't understand women who engage in any sort of activities with married men beyond friendship. And yes, it sounds like in your case, your husband was more than just friends with these women.

You deserve better. He is probably blowing smoke with his "I will follow you" line. So let him prove it. Move back home. I doubt he will follow.