your heir, who is also going to be my child. You’re not the only one who is concerned about making sure their child is protected.”
Aaron couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Imagine her accusing him of acting in such a way! She had no right!
His mouth forming a tight line, he took her by the arm and strode out of the room. He led her down the hall and then turned to his library. He glanced back and saw that Miss Britcher and Mr. Stonewall were following them.
He stopped at the door and snapped, “Neither one of you are allowed in here.” Then he entered the room with Kitty and slammed the door. He released her. “I suppose you think you’re clever.”
“I got the idea from you. If you get rid of Miss Britcher, I’ll get rid of Mr. Stonewall.”
“No. I’m not getting rid of her so that you’ll go back to other gentlemen’s beds.”
She crossed her arms. “Then I’m not getting rid of Mr. Stonewall.”
He stared at her for a long moment then groaned. “Why must you be so difficult?”
“Why must you be so difficult?”
Not expecting her to turn the question back on him, it took him a long moment to respond. “You are the one who needs watching. Ladies are the ones who can’t be trusted. They’re known for their unfaithfulness.”
“Who are they being unfaithful with, my lord?”
“Their lovers.”
“Lovers who happen to be who?”
What was she getting at? “Lovers like Lord Edon and the Duke of Lambeth.”
“Exactly. Gentlemen. These ladies are taking lovers who are gentlemen. That means gentlemen are just as guilty as ladies are.”
He clenched his jaw. He sought for a way to argue with her, but his mind drew a blank. How did she manage to render him unable to think clearly? It wasn’t right. It simply wasn’t right! Finally, he sputtered, “I can’t help it if those gentlemen are with ladies who aren’t their wives. I can only control what I do.”
“I can’t control what other ladies do, either. I can only control myself.”
“The only way I know you’ll behave is by having Miss Britcher watch over you.”
“And the only way I know you’ll behave is by having Mr. Stonewall watch over you.”
He groaned and threw the door open. Miss Britcher and Mr. Stonewall were standing nearby. He directed his attention to Mr. Stonewall. “I’ll pay you to leave.”
“You can’t do that!” Kitty ran over to them and slipped between them. “I’m his employer, not you.”
“But I have more money.” Certainly, she couldn’t have saved up so much money that she was wealthier than him. His gaze went to Mr. Stonewall. “How much is she paying you? I’ll pay you more to end your services.”
“No!” She glanced at Mr. Stonewall and shot him a pleading look. “No.”
Mr. Stonewall looked at Aaron. “As Lady Northton has stated, she is my employer. I am responsible to her.”
Aaron’s face turned red. “She is a lady. Surely, you understand how untrustworthy she is.”
“She paid me half of my wages upfront,” Mr. Stonewall said. “The terms of the job were agreeable to me, so I accepted it. When she relieves me of my position, I shall go.”
Kitty didn’t hide her relief.
“I see you bewitched him with your charm,” Aaron told her. Some gentlemen were easily led in by a beautiful lady, but Aaron was much too intelligent for something like that.
“She did no such thing,” Mr. Stonewall said. “She won me over by logic. If she is to need a chaperone, then you need a chaperone, too. It’s only fair.”
Fair? What was fair about the fact that ladies could get anything they wanted while their husbands had to cover up their scandalous activities? A gentleman could spend his entire life doing everything he could to preserve his reputation, but his wife could ruin all of that in one evening of debauchery.
He glared at Kitty. “I better not find out you’re with child.”
She stiffened her back. “And I better not find out you have an illegitimate child.”
“You won’t because I don’t defile myself with anyone.”
“I don’t defile myself, either.”
The fierceness of her words was no longer surprising him. She was excellent at feigning innocence. One would swear she truly was as clean as a fresh layer of snow.
He settled for laughing in a way that let her know he didn’t believe her before he went back into the library. He shut the door behind him to let her know he was done having anything to do with her. The door