Lilly told Kitty. “I can’t wait to find out what happens.”
“I can’t, either,” Emilia agreed, not hiding her excitement. “I wish I was in that townhouse so I could witness it for myself, but hearing about it is almost as good.”
“It’s the best we can do,” Lilly said. “I’m in no condition to sneak into a person’s townhouse to eavesdrop on them.”
“Oh, you two wouldn’t want to witness how things are between me and my husband,” Kitty assured them. “All we do is bicker. It’s a very unpleasant situation. I hate it every time he enters the room. I just know nothing good will come from being near him.”
A knock came at the door, and Lilly called out for the person to enter.
The door opened, and Miss Britcher’s head poked in. Kitty frowned. Shouldn’t the old coot be in the carriage outside?
“Pardon me for interrupting,” Miss Britcher said, “but I’ve been notified that a family member needs my attention. I am unable to go to her unless Lady Northton is with me.”
Kitty’s eyes widened in surprise. Miss Britcher had a family? Her curiosity piqued, Kitty nodded and rose to her feet.
Lilly and Emilia walked with her to the entryway. Kitty couldn’t help but notice that Miss Britcher’s stride was a little faster than usual.
“Will you come by tomorrow?” Lilly asked Kitty.
“I’ll be here the same time that I came today,” Kitty assured her.
“Good.” Lilly smiled. “I don’t want to miss a thing.”
“I don’t, either,” Emilia added.
Kitty glanced at Miss Britcher to see if those words would pique her interest, but Miss Britcher didn’t give any indication she’d even heard them. That was strange. Such comments should have aroused the lady’s attention. The issue with her family must be serious.
The footman went to the door and opened it just as Aaron, followed by Michael, made it to the top step.
“What are you doing here?” Kitty asked. “Are you going to demand that you sit on the conversations I have with my friends?”
Aaron looked appalled. Then he looked upset. “I don’t care what you or your silly friends are up to. I came by to see my friend. Mr. Morris happens to live here, too.”
“My husband is in the library reading a book,” Lilly told him.
Aaron nodded. “Thank you.”
“Your gaze needs to go higher, my lord,” Emilia spoke up.
Not sure what she was getting at, Kitty glanced at her friend.
Aaron, who also seemed unaware of what she meant, directed his attention to her. “Pardon me?”
“The eyes, my lord,” Emilia said and gestured to Lilly’s face. “Your eyes should go to her face. It’s most inappropriate it was lower.”
Aaron’s face turned red. “I was only looking at her belly. My friend had mentioned she was with child, but I didn’t realize she was that far along.”
Emilia clucked her tongue. “It’s wrong to lie. Your gaze was a bit higher.” She patted Kitty on the shoulder. “It’s no wonder you want your wife to dress like she’s headed for the nunnery. You have trouble restraining your lust.”
“Now that I think about it, he did make me feel uncomfortable,” Lilly said. She shot him a scolding look. “Shame on you, Lord Northton.”
Playing along, Kitty crossed her arms. “Mr. Stonewall, I’m glad you’re here to make him mind his hands. It’s bad enough knowing his gaze is prone to wander.”
“My gaze wasn’t wandering,” Aaron snapped. “The lot of you are just being difficult.”
“Isn’t it just like a gentleman to blame a lady for his lack of control?” Emilia murmured to Kitty and Lilly.
“What was that?” Aaron asked, turning a sharp gaze to her.
“Be mindful of your eyes, my lord,” Emilia replied. “They do you no favors.”
As much as Kitty was enjoying what her friends were doing, she noted the way Miss Britcher was anxiously fidgeting. Even if she didn’t like the lady, she didn’t want to watch her suffer.
“We will have a discussion about your lustful appetites later,” Kitty told Aaron. “Right now, my chaperone and I have somewhere important to be.” She bid her friends a farewell then hurried out of the townhouse.
***
Aaron waited until Kitty and Miss Britcher were gone before he turned his gaze back to the two misfits who had dared to accuse him—of all people!—of looking at them inappropriately. Like he had any desire to be with any of them. “I assure you that my interest only had to do with Roger’s son or daughter,” he said once he could trust his voice to be calm. “You shouldn’t fill your friend’s