that has a perfect reputation,” another gentleman replied.
“I didn’t even think Miss Covington liked Lord Edon,” a third said. “I was sure I saw her scowl at him at the last ball.”
“Maybe he didn’t stay in bed with her long enough,” a fourth joked.
Aaron rolled his eyes and went to another room. He had all he could take from the gentlemen who idolized people like Lord Edon. If gentlemen like Lord Edon would stop going to bed with ladies, then the ladies’ husbands wouldn’t have to worry so much about whether or not their wives were going to have another gentleman’s child.
Aaron headed straight for the brandy and poured himself a glass. He drank the whole thing in two swallows then poured another glass.
“I can’t recall a time when someone rendered Lord Edon speechless,” someone said from behind Aaron.
Aaron put the cap on the decanter and turned toward Lord Roderick. “I thought he was talking about the lady I recently married.”
“You’re better off asking your wife about it instead of him.”
“That would be true if I could trust ladies to tell the truth.”
“Why don’t you trust ladies to tell the truth?”
“Because they lie.”
Lord Roderick’s eyebrows rose. “All of them?”
“Of course, all of them. It’s in their nature.” Aaron walked past him and went to a chair that was away from a window. He didn’t think Mr. Stonewall would peek in on him, but one couldn’t be too sure.
To his surprise, Lord Roderick sat beside him. “Not all ladies lie. Ladies are just like gentlemen. Some can be trusted, and some can’t. I, for one, don’t trust anything Lord Edon says.”
“I don’t, either. I didn’t say some gentlemen can’t be trusted.”
“I know. You just said all ladies lie. It’s odd that you would assume all ladies are liars when only some gentlemen are. If you had said all people lie, that would be more consistent.”
“I don’t go around lying. If I say something, I mean it.”
“I believe you, but I also know that not every lady lies. I happen to have a wife I trust. I made the mistake of not trusting her at first. Thankfully, everything is good between us now, but I almost ruined my chances of a love match because of the way I treated her.”
Considering that Lord Roderick looked as happy as Roger did about marriage, Aaron decided not to reply. The last thing he wanted to do was irritate someone else by pressing the issue. Some gentlemen wanted to believe the best about the ladies they married. Why not let them live in the bliss of ignorance?
Mr. Robinson came up to the doorway, saw Lord Roderick, and hurried off somewhere.
Lord Roderick shook his head. “I’ll never understand him.”
Aaron’s gaze went back to the doorway. “He’s probably too afraid of you to come into the room. I heard you made him muck out stalls.”
The corner of Lord Roderick’s lip curled up. “I also made him empty chamber pots.”
Aaron gasped then chuckled. “That’s right. You’re a sly devil.” He took a sip of the brandy.
With a shrug, Lord Roderick said, “He deserved it. He caused his guardian a lot of grief. His guardian is my friend, but he’s also too soft on him. I tell my friend if he is firm with his ward, then his ward will behave.” He shrugged again. “It’s useless to point it out. His guardian is too kind for his own good.”
“His guardian is Lord Clement, isn’t he?”
He nodded.
Lord Roderick was right. Lord Clement was too kind for his own good. In some ways, the gentleman reminded him of his father. Very likable and honorable. But easy to take advantage of, too.
“I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for gentlemen to set down rules with those they have under their care,” Aaron said.
“I don’t, either, but if I were to change the way my friend is, then he’d be a different person. If he were a different person, I probably wouldn’t be friends with him. We tend to be friends with someone for a reason.”
Yes, Aaron supposed that made sense. Perhaps Lord Clement was friends with Lord Roderick because Lord Roderick was firm with people. The two probably balanced each other out.
The footman came into the room with a neatly folded missive. At first, Aaron thought Mr. Stonewall was sending him a demand to leave the establishment, but the footman gave the missive to Lord Roderick.
“What’s this?” Lord Roderick asked as he took it.
“It was from a lady,” the footman said.
“A lady? You