A Deceptive Wager (Marriage by Design #3) - Ruth Ann Nordin Page 0,64

everything impossible for you and that he was wrong to treat you so poorly.”

Oh. In that case, Kitty didn’t feel so betrayed. While she didn’t like the fact that Gretchen had lied in order to get Aaron to take on the job of chaperoning Kitty himself, at least Gretchen admitted that Kitty didn’t deserve what he had put her through.

“He was wrong,” Kitty said.

“Yes, I know, and I know it was deceptive of me not to tell you what I was doing and why. I just didn’t think you two would ever spend more than a few minutes alone until you were forced to do it. I had good intentions. I thought Lord Northton would see what a fool he’d been and start to make an honest attempt to get to know you.” She sighed. “I suppose I made the wrong decision, though. Perhaps you are better off living in separate townhouses. There are a few couples who do it. No one will ostracize you because of it.”

Kitty hesitated to say anything, but in the short time she’d known the older lady, she felt she was safe in telling her the truth. “Lilly had her baby. As soon as I held him, the weight of what Aaron was asking me to do was too much. I can’t have his child and then hand that child over to him to raise without me. I want to be a part of my child’s life.”

She smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. Yes, what your husband was asking you to do was a cruel thing, but I know a couple of ladies who wouldn’t care if they saw their children again or not. It’s good that you care. I wish all mothers cared.”

Kitty’s mind went to Teddy’s mother. Gretchen hadn’t spoken a word about her. Hattie had been the one to do that. In light of that, Kitty refrained from mentioning her.

“If your husband is deserving of you, he’ll make an attempt to make things right,” Gretchen continued. “Mr. Stonewall thinks he’s reasonable enough to do that.”

Kitty didn’t care if Aaron was or not. The fact that he gave her the money from her dowry was all she really cared about at this point. Choosing to end the conversation on a happy note, Kitty wished her new friend a pleasant afternoon and headed back to Emilia’s townhouse.

Chapter Nineteen

“I hope the chain on this necklace is secure,” Emilia whispered to Kitty as the two friends stood to the side of the ballroom that evening.

“I’ve already tested the clasp twice,” Kitty said in amusement. “It’s secure. You have nothing to worry about. The necklace isn’t going to fall off.”

“I don’t know.” Emilia put her hand over the beautiful necklace that Benjamin had given her on their wedding day. “It’s expensive. I never realized that wearing something worth so much could produce so much anxiety.”

“I’d probably fret over it, too, if I had something like that. But it was sweet of Benjamin to buy you a necklace as exquisite as that one.”

“It was.”

Noting that someone was heading toward them out of the corner of her eye, Kitty turned her gaze to the person. It was Aaron. Her spine stiffened. She didn’t think he liked going to balls. What was he doing here, and, more importantly, what did he want with her? She figured they were done.

When he came up to them, he offered a greeting.

Though Kitty would rather whack him on the head for all the grief he’d put her through than speak with him, she managed a polite greeting in return.

“Good evening, my lord,” Emilia said. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Aaron told her. “And how are you?”

“I’m doing well,” Emilia replied.

A moment of awkward silence passed between everyone before Aaron asked, “I was wondering if I might talk with my wife?”

Kitty didn’t know if he was asking Emilia this or her since he glanced from one to the other.

Emilia gave her an uncertain look.

“No, I’d rather not,” Kitty finally told him.

“Please,” he said. “I only want to apologize.”

“While I agree there are many things you need to apologize for, I’m not interested in listening to them,” Kitty replied. “I just want to be left alone.”

Aaron looked at Emilia again, and Kitty could tell by the expression on her friend’s face that she felt uncomfortable being in the middle of this whole sordid thing.

So Aaron wasn’t going to leave. She should have known he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Not wishing to put her