A Deceptive Wager (Marriage by Design #3) - Ruth Ann Nordin Page 0,54

glance at the butler who, he was sure, was thinking all sorts of sordid things about him now. “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m not going to visit a lady. I’m going to see my friend.” When her eyebrows rose as if to suggest he meant a female friend, he hurried to add, “He’s Mr. Morris. Roger. Your friend’s husband. You can come along if you want. I’m sure your friend would like to see you.”

“That’s a clever ploy. By stating things that way, you get to act as if I’m the one who’s inconveniencing you by demanding I chaperone you.”

“If you think about it, we’ve been chaperoning each other.”

The logic didn’t impress her, for, once again, she was scowling at him.

He took a deep breath. He deserved this. This was his due for the way he’d been acting since he met her. “I don’t mind it if you want to chaperone me. I think your friend might enjoy it if you came along.”

“I will come along. But not because of Lilly. I’ll be coming to make sure you don’t behave like a rake.”

She returned her attention to her meal, a silent statement that the conversation was over.

He released his breath and finished what was on his plate. He’d never been in a situation where he’d been so blatantly wrong before. He wasn’t sure he could rectify things, but he had to try. He owed it to her to try. The only person who could help him was Roger. He hoped Roger would have the answer because he certainly didn’t.

***

The entire carriage ride to Lilly’s was uncomfortable. Kitty hadn’t been with Aaron in a carriage since their wedding day, and Gretchen had been with them at the time. Now, she was alone with Aaron. It was even worse than being stuck in a room with him because they were in a confined space. She had a small window to distract her, but he was much too close.

It was with great relief that she left the carriage. She could never get used to being around him. No matter how long they were married, she wasn’t ever going to be used to him.

When they reached the front door, Aaron knocked.

“I’ll need to check the room you and Roger will be in,” she said. “Just in case a lady is hiding behind a couch or behind the drapes.”

He winced but didn’t respond.

The front door opened, and the footman welcomed them in with a smile. “I’ll tell Mr. and Mrs. Morris you are here. Your timing is impeccable. The baby is ready for receiving visitors.”

“Baby?” both Kitty and Aaron asked in unison.

“Mr. Morris is writing missives announcing the boy’s birth right now,” the footman said. “I was to deliver one to you as soon as he’s done.”

“I should have asked if it was a good time to come by,” Aaron replied.

“It’s the perfect time to come by,” Roger called out.

They turned to Roger who had a few neatly folded missives in his hand.

Kitty couldn’t recall a time when she’d seen Roger smiling so widely. She bet Lilly was equally as happy.

Roger sorted through the missives, took one out, and gave the rest to the footman. “Have these delivered.”

The footman nodded and hurried to do as requested.

Roger waved for Kitty and Aaron to follow him. “Lilly’s upstairs with the baby. She didn’t want any visitors until her lady’s maid had time to make her presentable. She’s ready now.”

“So everyone’s all right?” Aaron asked as they went up the stairs.

“Yes, Lilly and Jackson are fine,” Roger replied.

“You named him after your grandfather,” Aaron said.

“I offered to let Lilly come up with the name, but she could only come up with one for a girl. I think she had her heart set on a girl. She was looking at little dresses while she was expecting.” Roger chuckled. “I told her we’ll just have to try again.”

They reached the top of the stairs, and soon, they were at the door of Lilly’s bedchamber. Roger knocked on the door and called out, “Aaron and Kitty are here.”

“Already?” came her surprised voice.

“They must have sensed you had the child,” Roger joked. “Is it safe to come in?”

“Yes, they can come in,” she replied.

Roger opened the door, and since he and Aaron looked at her, Kitty went into the room first. Her gaze went to her friend who was sitting in a rocking chair by the window. A sleeping baby was wrapped tightly in a yellow blanket, and he looked

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