much time thinking of that future day, he forced his mind back to the present.
She softly said, “You must find weddings boring. I think most gentlemen feel that way.”
“No, it wasn’t that. I was just thinking of the child we’re going to have someday,” he admitted.
“I’m looking forward to having a child, too.”
“I love you, Kitty.”
“I love you, too.” She glanced at the newly married couple. “I want to congratulate them. Want to join me?”
He shook his head. “I’ll give them my congratulations before I leave.”
“But that won’t be until after the wedding breakfast.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She sighed but playfully asked, “Will Michael and Gretchen always make you uncomfortable?”
“Probably,” he replied.
She squeezed his hand. “All right. I suppose it won’t get any easier for you.”
“It won’t. I don’t care how long we live. I’ll never think of them as friends. They’ll always be chaperones.”
She chuckled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “At least they aren’t still chaperoning us. I’ll return in a moment.”
“It’s nice you came even though Michael and Gretchen make you nervous,” Roger said as she left his side.
Unaware that Roger had been listening to him and Kitty, Aaron turned to his friend. “I’ve tried not to be that way around them, but they have this way of looking at me that makes me think of a stern master.” Without meaning to, he shuddered.
Roger laughed. “At least Kitty doesn’t ask you to spend a lot of time with them. Once the breakfast is over, you can go home.”
“Yes, I am grateful for that.” And, thankfully, Kitty didn’t ask him to join her every time she wanted to read to Teddy.
“The important thing is that you’re not afraid of your wife,” his friend said. “Do you want to go to White’s this afternoon? I hear Mr. Robinson is trying to figure out another way to scare Lord Roderick.”
Aaron rolled his eyes. “Why doesn’t he give up? He’ll never frighten Lord Roderick.”
“I know, but it’s funny to watch him try. I’m sure one of these days, he’ll give up. In the meantime, a few gentlemen are making wagers on how many times he’ll have to lose before he gives up.”
“Does Mr. Robinson know they’re making these wagers?”
“No. Nor does Lord Edon. We figured it best not to tell Lord Edon. All he’ll do is tell Mr. Robinson, and that would spoil the fun.”
Aaron studied his friend, and when he realized Roger was enjoying it, he shook his head. “I had no idea you had such a deceptive side to you. Imagine you having fun at someone else’s expense.”
“I had plenty of fun at yours.”
“What?”
“After Kitty left your townhouse, we made a bet on whether or not she’d ever go back to you.”
“You did what?”
Aaron asked the question so loudly that everyone turned to look at them in surprise.
Face warm, Aaron cleared his throat. “It’s nothing. Go back to your conversations.” He waited until they were no longer watching them before he whispered, “How could you have made such a ridiculous bet?”
Roger shrugged. “It was easy money. I knew it was only a matter of time before she returned to you. Once you realized you had misjudged her, I knew you were going to show her the person I know. I turned out to be right. You earned me a nice sum of money.”
“I have a feeling I don’t want to know who bet she’d never return.”
“You probably don’t.”
Aaron’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why? Were some of them gentlemen I like?”
“You know how it is at White’s. Some gentlemen like to bet on an opposing side just for fun.”
It was on the tip of Aaron’s tongue to demand his friend tell him who thought he’d ruined things so badly with Kitty that she never would have returned, but then, he decided he didn’t want to know.
“I think there are far too many wagers at White’s,” Aaron finally said.
“Probably, but I doubt anyone will stop making them. Besides, not all wagers are bad. You did get Kitty from the wager you made with her brother.”
“Yes, that’s true.” When he thought back on it, that particular wager was the best thing that ever happened to him. “And I suppose not all scandals are bad. You got Lilly out of one.”
Roger nodded. “I did. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Looking back, I realize that only a lady who loved me as much as Lilly does would have given up her reputation for me.”
“Considering how important reputations are, I can see