A Deceptive Wager (Marriage by Design #3) - Ruth Ann Nordin Page 0,16
her breath. There was no reasoning with her. She might even be worse than Aaron. At least there were moments when Aaron had to pause and think over how he was going to respond to her.
The footman opened the door, and Kitty gave a slight jerk since she hadn’t knocked on the door yet. “Good afternoon, Miss Farrow. Mrs. Morris is in the drawing room with Lady Valentine.”
Kitty cleared her throat and forced a pleasant smile on her face. “Thank you.” She stepped into the townhouse, and, unfortunately, Miss Britcher was right on her heels. “I married yesterday. I’m Lady Northton now.”
He offered a nod. “If you and your friend will follow me, my lady, I’ll take you both to the drawing room.”
When Kitty entered the drawing room, she pretended not to notice the look of shock on her friends’ faces when they saw the crotchety old lady who was behind her.
Kitty waited for the footman to leave before she turned to Miss Britcher. “As you can see, these are ladies. I am not here to engage in a secret rendezvous with a gentleman. Now that you can assure my husband of this, leave us alone.”
Miss Britcher scanned the two ladies as if she wasn’t convinced they really were ladies, but after a few seconds, she must have concluded that Lilly and Emilia couldn’t be gentlemen secretly disguised as ladies since she gave them an approving nod. To Kitty’s dismay, she proceeded to go around the room and inspect it. She checked behind the open drapes, around the furniture, and then behind the desk.
When she started opening the drawers, Lilly called out, “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I’m making sure Lady Northton won’t be exposed to anything inappropriate while she’s here,” Miss Britcher replied as she sorted through the items in the drawer.
Kitty rolled her eyes. “My husband hired her to make sure I don’t conceive another gentleman’s child. He thinks I’m not a virgin.”
Lilly’s eyes grew wide, and Emilia’s jaw dropped.
“There’s nothing wrong with a husband wanting to make sure the child is his,” Miss Britcher said. “It’s wise of him to be careful. His title is at stake. Only the legitimate heir should inherit it.”
Kitty closed her eyes for a moment in order to stop herself from screaming.
Miss Britcher closed the last drawer then went over to them. “Everything looks appropriate. I’ll be outside.”
Kitty thought she meant she would be outside the townhouse, but Miss Britcher picked up one of the chairs and carried it to a spot right in front of the doors. Then, without looking back at them, she shut the two doors.
Lilly turned her bewildered gaze to Kitty. “Who is she?”
“My insufferable chaperone,” Kitty replied as she sat in a chair across from the settee. “It was Aaron’s wedding present. She hasn’t left my side since we got into his carriage after the wedding.”
“She follows you around when you leave the townhouse?” Emilia asked.
“I wish that was all she did. At least then I’d have a little freedom,” Kitty replied. “No, she is with me at all times.”
“At all times?” Lilly repeated.
Kitty nodded. “All the time. She even sleeps in the bedchamber with me.”
“In your bed?” Lilly asked.
“No. She has her own bed. But she sleeps by the door so I can’t get out of the room without her knowing.” Kitty let out a frustrated sigh. “How can your husband be friends with someone like that?”
“Well, he doesn’t treat Roger that way,” Lilly replied.
“This is just terrible,” Emilia spoke up. “Why does he have to be so unreasonable?”
“Because he’s sure I have lovers,” Kitty said. “He thinks I might even be with child right now. Miss Britcher is to inspect my underthings every morning to see if I’ve started my lady’s time.”
Emilia cringed. “How does she inspect your underthings?”
“This morning when we woke up, she made me take them off so she could inspect them.”
“Oh, this is unnecessary,” Lilly said. “I’ll tell Roger this must stop. Roger can assure Aaron that you’re not with child. You haven’t done more than dance with a gentleman at a ball.”
“Aaron won’t believe it,” Kitty replied. “He is sure that all ladies are harlots.”
Emilia frowned. “Something must be done about it.”
“I already know what I’m going to do,” Kitty said. “I’m going to hire a chaperone for Aaron. I have some spending money I saved over the years, and I will use it to pay for a chaperone’s services. I’ll make this person do everything Mrs. Britcher