A Deceptive Wager

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Thinking of his words now, Kitty watched as he and Gretchen danced with the others. Gretchen was dressed in a beautiful new gown, and her hair had been pulled up into an attractive style that flattered her face. She looked as if she had been born and bred a lady in a noble household. The lady’s maid Emilia had recommended for Gretchen to use had transformed her into someone Kitty hardly recognized.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Kitty saw someone approaching her. Her heart sped up in anticipation until she saw that it was her brother. She groaned. She would have gotten up and hurried off into the crowd if she’d thought she could lose him, but based on her experiences with him in the past, there was no way she was going to be able to escape. Somehow, someway, he always managed to find her.

  The only good thing about this was knowing he couldn’t drag her back home with him when the evening was over. He couldn’t make her dance with someone, either. In fact, if she wanted to, she could stay seated all evening. Since she was no longer under his control, she was free to do whatever she wanted. Despite the reminder, she still felt a sense of dread well up within her as he sat beside her.

  “I heard you’re not living with your husband,” Willard said.

  “What does it matter to you?” she asked. “You’re no longer responsible for me.”

  “All of the Ton is talking about it,” he replied. “Do you know how many people have asked me why you’re not living with your husband?”

  She bet he’d only had one or two people ask about it, and those were the friends he had who had nothing better to do than mind other people’s business.

  “I’m surprised it took you so long to realize I was no longer living with Aaron,” she said. “You must have been drunk for weeks.”

  “I had no idea where you were living,” her brother snapped. “That’s why it took me so long to find you. I figured you’d be here tonight since this is your friend’s ball.”

  “Well, you found me and you told me how upset you are,” she said. “You can go now.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until we settle the matter of the wager.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Are you talking about the wager you and Aaron made before you forced us to marry?”

  “I didn’t force anyone to get married. He could have said no.”

  “He had to say yes to get the money.”

  He shrugged. “A little detail that’s hardly worth noting.”

  She sighed in annoyance. “When are you going to leave me alone? I’ve grown tired of this conversation.”

  “The condition of him getting that money was to marry you. Without you two living together, you might as well not be married.”

  “So?”

  “So that means the wager has been nullified.”

  It took a moment for her to understand his meaning. He had come here to gripe to her about the money. “Does Aaron want you to pay him twenty thousand pounds since I left?”

  “No, he doesn’t want the money at all. He said it belongs to you.”

  She blinked in surprise. Aaron had actually told Willard that? “When did this happen?”

  “Earlier this week when I went to see him about getting the money back.”

  “And he told you to come to me to get the money?”

  “No, he said the money belonged to you. He said neither he nor I have a right to it.”

  She relaxed. For a moment, she worried that Aaron had betrayed her, but as it turned out, he hadn’t. Instead, he had defended her right to maintain control of her dowry. And that meant she was more important to him than the money. The last of her hesitation to be with Aaron crumpled around her. Aaron truly did care about her. He had stopped comparing her to his mother. He was judging her on her own merits, and he had found her to be worth putting ahead of himself.

  Willard shook his head. “I don’t understand this. You didn’t earn that money. The only thing you did was be born into the family.”

  Turning her focus back to Willard, her expression hardened. “You were also born into the family. You did nothing to earn your portion of the inheritance, either.”

  “I most certainly did. I was the heir.”

  She waited for him to say more than that to explain why he deserved what he’d gotten, but when he didn’t, she said, “I didn’t realize how difficult it is to be born a boy. I suppose I should be in awe of your notable achievement.”

  “It is a notable achievement. Why do you think I’m the one who inherited the title?”

  She glowered at him. “If it weren’t for the fact that Mother was a lady, you never would have been born at all. A gentleman doesn’t get to be here all on his own. He needs a lady’s help.” She got to her feet. “You’re a terrible person, Willard. I don’t know how we ended up in the same family, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re not my brother.”

  Before she could step away from him, he grabbed her by the arm. She slapped his hand away. She’d never done that before. In the past, she’d always let him take her out of the room. But she was no longer under his care, and because of that, she didn’t have to go anywhere with him.

  Unfortunately, she’d only made it three steps away from him before he caught up to her. She tried to shove him away, but his grip only tightened on her. He pushed her toward the veranda. She was so shocked that she didn’t think to call out for help until he had already forced her outside. She tried to get back in, but he closed the doors and blocked her from going around him.

  “Someone noticed what you did,” she snapped. “You’re always worried about what other people are going to say about you. Well, there’s going to be plenty of gossip for tomorrow morning’s scandal sheets after you shoved me out here.”

  “I want that money back,” Willard hissed. “That money was to get you married. It wasn’t for you to go off and live on your own.”

  “I can do whatever I want. As Aaron told you, that money belongs to me. Get out of my way. You have no right to keep me here against my will.”

  “I can do whatever I want. I am still your brother. I’m going to take that money back. If you want to live with one of your friends, then do it. But that money was your dowry, and that dowry was to only go to your husband. Since he won’t take it, it goes to me.”

  She gritted her teeth. She hated it when her brother cornered her. In the past, all she could do was give him whatever he wanted. It was why she hadn’t put up a fight when he told her she was marrying Aaron. But she didn’t want to give in this time. This time, she was going to maintain control over things.

  She spun on her heel and headed for the steps of the veranda. She made it to the first step when he put his arm around her waist and dragged her back to the center of the veranda.

  She couldn’t believe he was doing this! She struck his arm with her fists and wiggled in an attempt to get away from him. “Let go of me!”

  “What are you doing to her?” came a familiar voice.

  Willard whirled around with her to face the doors leading to the ballroom. Her head spun for a moment, but she quickly regained her balance and saw Aaron.

  Aaron set his hands on his hips and glared at Willard. “I thought I saw you taking my wife out here.”

  “She’s not your wife,” Willard replied. “Not really. You two aren’t living in the same townhouse.”

  “It doesn’t matter whether we’re living in the same townhouse or not,” Aaron said. “I’m not going to let you hurt her.”

  Willard scoffed. “I’m not going to hurt her.”

  “She’s trying to get away from you, and you’re forcing her to stay with you,” Aaron replied as he walked toward them.

  Willard backed up, taking her with him. “I’m talking to her.”

  “He’s demanding I give him my dowry,” Kitty said.

  “That’s not your money,” Aaron told him. “I already explained that to you.”

  “It is my money,” Willard snapped. “I gave it to you when I allowed you to marry my sister.”

  Kitty waite
d for Aaron to remind her brother that he hadn’t been allowed to marry her. But to her surprise, Aaron said, “You used your sister’s money to pay off a debt from a wager you foolishly made. It’s not her fault you don’t manage your money well.”

  “You entered the wager with me.”

  “Because I knew I’d win. I don’t enter anything unless I know exactly what it is I’m getting myself into. I’m not reckless like you are. You’ll just have to deal with the consequences of your actions. Now let her go.”

  “You’ve grown to care for her, haven’t you?” Willard asked.

  Kitty groaned. “It’s no use, Aaron. My brother can’t be reasoned with. He only cares about himself.” She tried to wiggle away from him, but he wouldn’t let her go. In fact, his grip only tightened around her waist. “You’re not getting anything, Willard.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Willard said, not hiding the amusement in his voice. “I propose another wager, Lord Northton. Twenty thousand pounds for your wife.”

  “What?” She tried to elbow him in the ribs, but he managed to stop her.

  “What do you say?” he asked Aaron. “Do I deliver her to you, or do I take her with me and you never see her again?”

  “You’re worse than I thought you were,” Kitty hissed. And her opinion of him had already been as low as she’d thought it could get.

  “Any agreement with you would be meaningless,” Aaron told him. “How many other gentlemen have you deceived in the past?”

  “I didn’t deceive you,” Willard said.

  “You used your sister’s dowry to pay your debt.”

  Kitty noticed that Aaron was slowly stepping toward her. Before Willard could notice, she made another attempt to wiggle out of his arms. The ploy worked. Willard was so busy keeping her with him that he didn’t realize Aaron had reached them until Aaron grabbed his arm so she could get away from him. She quickly darted to the other side of the veranda.

  Willard swung his fist at Aaron, but Aaron ducked in time to miss him. Willard stumbled forward. He managed to regain his balance just in time for Aaron to punch him in the jaw. Willard stood still for a moment then fell into an unconscious heap in front of him.

  “Well done,” Lord Edon called out behind them.

  Surprised, Kitty turned toward the open doors of the veranda where Lord Edon and Mr. Robinson stood. To the side were Emilia, Benjamin, Gretchen, Michael, and a few other people she didn’t recognize.

  Kitty’s cheeks warmed. She’d been so busy trying to get away from Willard that she hadn’t even realized people had been watching them.

  “I’m not inclined toward marriage myself,” Lord Edon continued, “but I have to admit that I’m touched by such a display of romantic devotion, Lord Northton.”

  “Yes, it was wonderful to see,” Mr. Robinson added. “If this had been in the play I watched the other night, I might not have fallen asleep from boredom.”

  “What do the rest of you think?” Lord Edon asked the onlookers. “Wasn’t that an honorable thing Lord Northton did for his wife?”

  He began to clap, and others followed his lead.

  Kitty’s face warmed even more, and she had to turn her gaze away from them. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention, and she wasn’t sure she liked it.

  Aaron went over to her and took her by the arm. “My wife has just been through an upsetting experience. She should have some time to compose herself.”

  “Oh, of course,” Lord Edon said. He gestured for everyone to clear the doorway. “We’ll give you and your wife some privacy.”

  Aaron waited until everyone was done stepping back before escorting Kitty into the room. She found herself edging closer to him on instinct. She thought she heard someone murmur that this incident was going to end up in the Tittletattle in the morning, but Michael and Gretchen approached them before she could give it too much thought.

  “I thought once Lord Northton got to know his wife the way I did, he would realize she was worth fighting to keep.” Gretchen smiled at Aaron. “It’s a pleasant change to see you this way.”

  “Yes, it is nice,” Michael agreed. “Now we don’t have to wonder if you two will kill each other without someone there to stop you.”

  Gretchen chuckled and patted his arm. “I had no idea you were such a cad.”

  “Well, the two did argue whenever they were together in the past,” he said. “I had a good reason to be concerned.”

  “You didn’t think Lord Northton would let Lord Halloway abduct her. You knew he was going out there to rescue her.”

  “I suspected, but it was hard to know for sure.”

  Gretchen sighed but turned her gaze to Aaron. “I knew that you were an honorable gentleman. Michael knew it, too.”

  Kitty glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention to what they were saying, but only Emilia and Benjamin were nearby. The others, thankfully, had chosen to leave them alone.

  “Yes, he did know it,” Benjamin chimed in. “My uncle was greatly encouraged by how things were going when he realized you were coming by to visit Kitty under pleasant circumstances.”

  “The important thing is that your brother didn’t harm you,” Emilia told Kitty. “I’m going to find the butler to make sure Willard leaves this residence.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Benjamin agreed and went with her.

  “I need to get out of this ballroom,” Kitty said. “I want to be somewhere quiet.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Aaron replied, sounding relieved for a chance to get away from their friends’ teasing. “I’ll take you out of here.”

  While she could tell the others didn’t mean any harm in it, it did seem like it was embarrassing him.

  He waited until they were out of the ballroom before asking her, “Which room do you want to go to?”

  “I’d prefer a room where no one will disturb me,” she replied. She had been in the mood to talk and dance earlier, but after Willard came so close to forcing her to leave, she was slightly trembling. She only hoped that Aaron didn’t notice. “Do you mind taking me to my bedchamber?”

  “Would you like me to instruct someone to bring you something to drink to help soothe your nerves?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I wouldn’t mind some hot tea.”

  “I think sherry might be a better choice considering everything.”

  Yes, maybe he was right. “All right. I’ll have a glass of that.”

  He led her up the stairs. Once he opened the door for her, he said he would get her a drink and left.

  She closed the door and collapsed on the bed. Of all the things her brother had done to her, this had to be the worst. Sure, he hadn’t been pleasant most of the time, but he’d never physically tried to make her do something she didn’t want.

  He was like that all along. You just hadn’t known it because you went along with whatever he wanted.

  She hadn’t started fighting back until Aaron had forced her to have a chaperone. She supposed everyone had a moment where they realized they couldn’t take being controlled anymore, and that had been her moment. She’d been so busy reacting to Aaron since then that it didn’t occur to her that she had learned to stand up for herself. And while Aaron had been unbearable at times, at least he had been willing to let her go. Unlike Willard, he wasn’t willing to force her to keep doing what he wanted.

  She hated that she was no match for her brother. She hadn’t been strong enough to get away from him. He could have abducted her if Aaron hadn’t stepped in to stop him. But others had witnessed her brother taking her out of the ballroom, too. She just hadn’t realized it at the time.

  She knew Benjamin and Michael would have intervened, but they had chosen to stand back and let Aaron handle things. Perhaps it was to show Kitty that Aaron was a good husband. Maybe it was so she’d know she could trust him. She did like finding out he’d told Willard that the money was hers. Of all the things that anyone had done for her, letting her have complete freed
om to do what she wanted with her money was the nicest thing that had ever happened to her.

  With a relieved sigh, she closed her eyes and waited for Aaron to return.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Kitty sat up in the bed when Aaron returned to the room. As promised, he had a glass of sherry in his hand. He shut the door then walked over to her.

  “You’ll be happy to know your brother is gone.” He held out the glass. “I doubt he’ll give you any more trouble. They’re already laughing at him in the ballroom.”

  She accepted the glass and took a sip of the sweet wine. At once, it started to calm her nerves.

  “Are you going to be all right?” he asked.

  “I’ll be fine,” she replied. “I just need some time alone.”

  “In that case, I’ll leave you in peace. Will you feel up to a visit tomorrow afternoon?”

  “I didn’t mean that I wanted you to leave. When I said I needed to be alone, I meant that I needed to be away from everyone downstairs. All of that activity would be too much for me to handle right now.” She took another sip of the sherry. “I’d like for you to stay. I find it comforting.”

  “Oh.” He glanced around the room and, upon finding a chair at her vanity, he brought it in front of her and sat down.

  Her eyes widened. “Why are you sitting there instead of next to me?” she asked.

  He hesitated but replied, “It’s best that I sit here.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m a gentleman, and there are certain thoughts a gentleman has when he’s alone in a bedchamber with a lady.”

  His gaze went away from her as he spoke, letting her know the topic was an uncomfortable one for him. She didn’t know why it should be. She took another drink of her sherry then asked, “Is he thinking she should go to sleep?”

  She couldn’t be sure since the light coming from the fireplace and candles made it difficult to see everything with clarity, but she thought he looked embarrassed.