soon.”
“I suppose we’ll have to wait and find out.” She still had a couple of weeks before she was due for her lady’s time, but she saw no need to let him, or Miss Britcher, know that.
“I will not touch you until that time comes. If there is a child already growing in your womb, you will visit my manor in the country until the thing is born. Miss Britcher will make sure it goes to a couple who doesn’t mind raising someone else’s brat. I will not acknowledge anyone’s child except my own.”
She would expect nothing less from this brute of a man. She took another sip of the brandy, relieved when she realized it was relaxing her. Her stomach had been tangled up in knots the entire day. It was a much-needed reprieve to feel them loosen up. She just might be able to sleep tonight. Unless…
“You don’t intend to take me to your bed this evening, do you?” she asked. “I wouldn’t want you to defile yourself on the same day we made vows to be husband and wife at the blessed funeral.”
“I’m not amused by your words.”
“I’m not amused by yours, either. In fact, nothing you’ve said or done ever since I met you has amused me.”
“There better not be a child in your womb right now.”
“And you better not be siring children with the ladies you share dalliances with.” She figured if he was going to keep accusing her of immoral behavior, she might as well do the same to him. “I won’t have any of the money I came into this marriage with going to taking care of your illegitimate brats.”
He gasped as if he couldn’t believe she’d said that straight to his face. Good. It was only right he was subjected to the same treatment he was giving her. An idea came to her. She ought to hire a gentleman to chaperone him. Her brother hadn’t realized it, but she’d sold a few things she’d sewn over the years. She’d saved all of it and put it all in a secret compartment of her jewelry box. She didn’t know how much a chaperone charged, but maybe she had enough to pay for one. Surely, there ought to be someone desperate enough for money that he’d be willing to oversee everything Aaron did in the same way Miss Britcher oversaw everything she did. At the very least, she had to try.
“I can see this marriage is going to be as miserable as I expected,” Aaron muttered, his expression growing dark.
“You get what you deserve, my lord,” she replied nonchalantly and then sipped more of the brandy. Now that she’d gotten used to it, it wasn’t so bad. She had no desire to drink it all the time, but should the need arise, she could do so without going into a coughing fit like she had last time.
“I have no intention of getting under a lady’s gown.”
“I don’t believe you. Your mind has been surprisingly focused on getting under mine.”
“Only to have an heir. I shall not enjoy a single moment of the act.”
“I’m sure I won’t enjoy it either since it’ll be with you.”
“It doesn’t matter if we enjoy it or not. It’s the only way God saw fit for a gentleman to have a child. I’d express my grievances with the Creator, but it’s not like He’ll remove ladies from the Earth so that gentlemen can live in peace. We are where we are, and we must make the best of it.”
“I doubt that’s possible when you’re so sour.”
Aaron straightened his spine and didn’t say anything for a long moment. When he finally spoke, he said, “That’s enough of your contrary talk. I brought you in here to discuss your spending allowance. You will not spend more than one pound a week.”
“One pound a week? Why, my lord, you are so generous with my dowry. I don’t know what I shall buy first.” She definitely couldn’t afford to replace any of the gowns Miss Britcher had thrown out. “Perhaps I’ll buy a fan so I can lift it up to my eyes so I don’t have to look at you.”
“One pound is all you’ll receive,” he said, ignoring her sarcastic retort. “Everything you need has been provided for you in this house.”
“How fortunate for me,” she muttered.
“I’ve instructed Miss Britcher that she must not let you put anything on credit with the shop owners. I won’t allow it.”
Oh, how she hated this marriage.