One would swear you
think babies magically pop out of the sky.”
“I know how babies come to be here. I just
never concerned myself with the details because I didn’t have a
reason to make one.” Then, as an afterthought, he added, “Until
now. But this is simply an investment in my future. It’s not
something I intend to enjoy or do a lot of. I just want to do it
enough so I’ll have at least two children. Ideally, we’ll have a
boy and a girl, but I know there’s no way to control the
outcome.”
She stared at him, trying to gauge whether or
not he was serious. But he made eye contact with her and didn’t
blink. He was serious. Absolutely and completely serious. Unable to
stop herself, she burst out laughing.
“What’s so amusing?” he asked with a
frown.
“Haven’t you ever pleasured yourself? With
your hand?” she clarified in case he had no idea what she was
talking about.
He didn’t react right away, and when he did,
his jaw dropped and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“What? The thought never occurred to you to
do that?”
“We are not compatible at all. This marriage
won’t work.”
“Oh, of course, it will. Once you realize how
enjoyable the bed is, things will be fine.” She caught his
skeptical expression and said, “I assure you, lovemaking will be
one of the best things you’ll ever do. It might even become your
favorite activity.” Then, just to ease his mind, she added, “You
might even prefer it to money.”
This time, he was the one who laughed. “My
dear lady, I could never prefer anything to money. Money is my one
greatest passion, and I’m good at making it.”
Not to be deterred by his remark, she leaned
toward him and lowered her voice. “Perhaps you will find you’ll
also be good at making children.”
The carriage came to a stop, and he seemed
relieved the conversation was over. Soon enough, she’d have him in
bed, and then she would start teaching him there was more to life
than money.
Chapter Eight
M alcolm decided to follow Regan into her townhouse. His
coachman had asked him if he should have the butler pack his things
and bring them here, and Malcolm had relented enough to say he’d
like a couple of his clothes and grooming items. He wasn’t quite
ready to admit he was going to live in this place.
Right now, he was staying at her townhouse to
get the matter of the child underway. Not all husbands lived with
their wives. Some chose to even live in different countries,
something he was beginning to think was a good idea.
But he owed it to his future son or daughter
to put in the time to create him or her. That being the case, he
willingly went into Regan’s townhouse.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon,” the older
lady said, rising from the chair where she was playing with Leonard
in the drawing room.
“We didn’t have a breakfast,” Regan replied.
“It was a simple ceremony at the Duchess of Ashbourne’s townhouse.”
She turned to Malcolm and gestured to the lady. “This is my
mother-in-law, Eloise. Eloise, this is Malcolm Jasper.”
“A pleasure,” he greeted with a bow.
“How do you do?” she greeted, curtsying.
“Is he my father now?” Leonard asked.
“You should wait until you’re addressed
before talking,” Regan told her son.
“I’m sorry,” he replied, clasping his hands
in front of him and waiting for his cue to talk.
Malcolm was surprised Regan insisted her boy
adhere to the rules when she, herself, was prone to break them. If
she could bend them when it suited her, Malcolm decided he could,
too. “Nonsense,” he spoke up, interrupting Eloise’s question about
the ceremony. “I’d be happy to speak with the lad.” He waved him
forward. “Come on over and tell me all about your morning. I wager
it was much better than the one I had.”
He caught the startled expression on Eloise’s
face and thought it was just as well he’d upset Regan’s
mother-in-law. Perhaps it would show Regan