A Deceptive Wager (Marriage by Design #3) - Ruth Ann Nordin Page 0,3
to give birth in another month, looked at her in concern. “This must be serious. You’re quieter than usual.”
“What is it?” Emilia asked. “I thought you wanted to tell us something.”
Kitty gave up on the idea of drinking tea. She set the cup on the tray and clasped her hands in her lap so they’d stop shaking. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “I came here to ask about Lord Northton.”
Lilly blinked in surprise. “My husband’s friend?”
She nodded. “I wanted to know what kind of gentleman he is.”
“Why? Are you interested in him?”
“No.” Kitty shifted in the chair and tucked a dark curl behind her ear. “But my brother has demanded I marry him.”
“Don’t do it,” Lilly said. “Aaron doesn’t like ladies. He thinks none of them can be trusted.”
“Why does he think that?” Emilia asked.
Lilly shrugged. “I don’t know. Roger won’t tell me. He says that when Aaron told him, it was in confidence, and Roger has always been good at keeping his word. Just suffice it to say that Kitty should marry someone else.”
Kitty winced. “What if my brother already arranged it?”
“I doubt Aaron would agree to the arrangement,” Lilly said.
Lilly was right. He hadn’t agreed to it. But her brother had stated things in a way that made her suspect that Aaron was going to have to go through with it even if he didn’t want to. She knew it was pointless for her to go against her brother’s wishes. Her brother always got his way no matter what.
“Aaron must be a good person if Roger is friends with him,” Emilia spoke up before she took a sip of her tea.
“Of course, he’s a good person,” Lilly replied. “Roger speaks very well of him. He just isn’t interested in marriage.”
“But he’s a titled gentleman. He’ll need to marry if he wants an heir,” Emilia said. “Heirs are the only way they will pass their title directly down the line.”
“Well, he’s not in any hurry to get an heir like your husband was.”
“Benjamin is a very considerate and sweet husband. I can’t help but want to give him a child.”
Lilly smirked at her. “That’s not what you were saying on your wedding day. You were determined to keep him from ever touching you.”
Emilia gave a nonchalant shrug then sipped more tea.
Kitty’s face grew warm. She didn’t know the first thing about what happened between a husband and wife in bed, but it made her uncomfortable whenever her friends made comments about it. If it was up to her, she would remain unmarried for the rest of her life. Just dancing with a gentleman was difficult for her. She never knew what to say or how to act, no matter how often her friends had tried helping her in these matters.
Lilly turned her attention back to Kitty. “I don’t know much about Aaron. Roger says they play chess a lot at White’s. The few times I’ve seen him we haven’t said anything to each other beyond the usual pleasantries.”
Kitty tried not to hide her disappointment, but she was afraid it showed on her face anyway. “Besides chess, do you know anything about him?”
Lilly winced. “I’m sorry, but I don’t. He’s like a portrait. He’s there, but he doesn’t do anything.”
Kitty sighed. She had hoped her friends would assure her that Aaron was a kind and sweet gentleman who’d make a good husband. Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen.
“I wish I could have my dowry and do whatever I want to with it,” Kitty mumbled.
“What would you do with it if you had a choice?” Emilia asked.
“I’d get my own townhouse and spend the rest of my life unmarried,” Kitty replied. “Society says I should want to marry and have children, but I’ve been happy with things as they are.”
“Tell me the truth,” Emilia said. “Is that why you refused to marry Benjamin when I offered to let you take my place?”
“No,” Kitty slowly said, unsure if her friend would welcome her reasoning for rejecting the offer. “I wasn’t the least bit attracted to him.” She winced. “I’m sorry. I know you adore him.”
To her relief, Emilia laughed. “I wasn’t attracted to him when I married him, either. But, over time, he’s become handsome to me.”
“Sometimes a person’s beauty develops as we get to know them,” Lilly said. “Kitty, you won’t have that problem with Aaron. He’s a good-looking gentleman.”
Yes, Kitty couldn’t argue that point. He had dark hair, a strong jaw, and broad shoulders. All were things she