won’t take long.” He turned his gaze back to Miss Britcher. “When will you return today?”
“I won’t return today,” she replied.
“Why not?” he asked, not hiding his surprise.
“The matter with my nephew is a serious one,” she said. “The poor boy has been terrified by nightmares all through the night. It’ll take at least a few days to calm him,” she said.
“A few days?”
“At least. You haven’t met my nephew, but he requires more attention than most children. This isn’t something I have any control over. If he doesn’t have sufficient care around him, there’s no telling what will happen.”
“I thought you had a sister. You said you’re the one who works.”
“Yes, but even she can only do so much. In this instance, I must be with her.” She shot him a pointed look. “You wouldn’t want me to neglect my duties as his aunt in his time of need, would you?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
He’d never ask an aunt, or any caregiver, to neglect a child. How often had he resented the fact that his mother had cared more about her pleasures than him? It was commendable that Miss Britcher was so attentive to her nephew. He didn’t know anything about the lad, but he figured the lad was probably ten or younger, judging by the books she and Kitty had taken from his library.
“Who will be chaperoning my wife while you are gone?” he asked.
“You will, my lord.”
“Me?”
She nodded in a way that let him know she was determined it be this way.
“But I hired you to do it,” Aaron argued. “The least you can do is find someone to fill in for you.”
“All right.” She paused then gestured to Mr. Stonewall. “I’ll have him fill in for me.”
“You can’t do that,” Aaron said, not amused one bit. “It has to be a lady.”
“Well, there are no ladies I can find. The logical choice is you.”
“What about one of the maids?”
“The ones who are already busy cleaning the laundry and the rooms?”
Drat! They were busy doing all of that, and he really wanted his bedding washed and dried today, in addition to keeping up a clean townhouse in case someone were to visit. He groaned. “All right, I’ll do the job myself. That means,” he continued as an idea came to him, “I won’t need a chaperone while you’re gone since my wife can do his job for him.” He looked over at Mr. Stonewall.
Mr. Stonewall took a moment to think over the situation before he nodded. “I suppose my services won’t be required if my employer is watching you.”
Watching him. Aaron just hated the sound of that, but he had to relent since, from Mr. Stonewall’s perspective, it was true. “I’m sure my wife will send you a missive when your services are needed again,” Aaron told him. “That will be when Miss Britcher is back.”
“Understood, my lord,” Mr. Stonewall said. “I will pack my things once you and Lady Northton are together. Then I will leave with Miss Britcher.”
“That sounds like a fine arrangement,” Miss Britcher agreed. She turned her attention back to Aaron. “I will return to my lady.”
As Aaron watched her leave the room, he cursed the power of nightmares. Just what could have possibly caused a young lad to be so terrified that he had nightmares? With a shake of his head, he decided to skip the morning meal. He no longer had an appetite. All he wanted to do was get lost in a book. At least there, he was given a reprieve from reality.
Chapter Fifteen
Kitty tried to read the book she was holding, but it was proving to be an impossible feat with Aaron sitting close by with his own book. It didn’t help that the drawing room was quiet. She used to think it was awkward to read while Gretchen was nearby, but this was worse.
She glanced over at him. He seemed as if he had no trouble reading. It wasn’t fair that he could concentrate on his book while she couldn’t focus on hers.
This was all her fault. If she had stopped reading that story about Louisa as soon as she realized it had taken a dark turn, Teddy wouldn’t have gotten scared. Then he wouldn’t have had nightmares all night. Kitty had offered to go with Gretchen, but Gretchen had said that when Teddy got this scared, he couldn’t have more than his two aunts with him.
Kitty took another look at Aaron. He was reclining in his chair, and his