“I understand, and I’m more than willing to comply.”

  He stared at her, a critical frown on his face.

  “What?” she asked. “Don’t you believe me?”

  “You seem all too agreeable to my demands.”

  “We are married,” she replied with a suggestive grin. “The process of begetting children will be a part of things.”

  “Process of begetting children? I’m far more interested in actually having the children.”

  She smirked. “Just how do you think you’re going to get those children?”

  “I’m not naive. I know full well how I’m going to get them. It’s a matter of joining our bodies together. After the…exchange…is done, we’ll wait for you to have the child before trying for another. It’s like a business transaction.”

  She’d figured he hadn’t been around ladies much, but she had no idea he was completely unaware of how pleasurable the bed could be. “Don’t you ever have needs?” When he frowned, she explained, “Basic urges that lead to an erection?”

  He paled. “I would thank you to refrain from such bold speech.”

  “Why? We’re alone.”

  “That’s not the point. The point is, you’re a lady. You shouldn’t be speaking of things like a gentleman’s…” He waved his hand, as if trying to think of the right word to say.

  “Erect penis?” she provided.

  He grimaced and shifted in his seat, once again crossing his arms. “Such a thing shouldn’t come out of a lady’s lips. You are the gentler and fairer sex, after all.”

  “I’m a widow, Malcolm. I’m not some untried lady. And more than that, I have a son. There’s only one way that son got here. It’s the only way you’ll get those children you want so much. And as much as I hate to shock you, it’s how you came to be. Had it not been for your parents—”

  He put his hands over his ears and shut his eyes. “Don’t say it. I forbid you to say it.” After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and glanced over at her.

  She waited until he lowered his hands before letting out an exasperated sigh. “It’s a natural part of life. There’s nothing wrong about it.”

  “I didn’t say there was something wrong with it.”

  “It’s how you’re acting. 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

  Malcolm 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 how embarrassing she could be, given the right circumstances.

  Inspired, he sat in a chair and patted his lap. “You can sit here if you want.”

  The boy hesitated but then did as requested. “You really want to know what I did?”

  “I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t interested.” When the boy didn’t seem to understand him, he added, “Yes, I want to know. Tell me all about it. Don’t leave anything out.” With any luck, the lad would talk all day and prevent him from having to have any more conversations with his mother.

  “Cook made eggs,” Leonard said. “I don’t like eggs.”

  “You don’t?”

  “The yellow part isn’t good.”

  “Oh, the yolk. I don’t like it when the yolk gets on my bread. It makes it limp.”

  “It doesn’t taste good. I try not to eat it at all.”

  “I don’t blame you. If you don’t like something, why pretend to?”

  Malcolm glanced over at Regan, wondering if she caught his meaning, but to his surprise, she was smiling at the two of them, as if this was the most wonderful conversation she’d ever heard. What was wrong with her? Was she so daft she didn’t know when someone was telling her he didn’t care to be near her?

  His gaze went to Eloise, and she whispered something in Regan’s ear. The two ladies nodded and then smiled at each other. Malcolm wasn’t sure what the exchange meant, but he was sure it wasn’t good. Few things seemed to ever be in his favor when it came to his bride.

  “I do like cheese,” Leonard said. Then, as an afterthought, he added, “With biscuits.”

  Turning his attention back to the boy, Malcolm nodded. “I do, too. We should have that tomorrow morning. I’ll tell Cook to make those instead of eggs.”

  There. Maybe going over Regan’s authority would annoy her. But when he looked at her, he saw the same ridiculous grin on her face. Was there nothing he could do to upset her?

  “Can I have a crumpet, too?” Leonard asked. “Mother always says no.”

  What a clever lad! If Regan didn’t get annoyed when he did something she specifically forbade, then there was no hope for him. “Yes, you may,” he told Leonard, glancing, once more, at her.

  Unfortunately, she showed no signs of irritation. In fact, her mother-in-law whispered something else in her ear, and the two ladies giggled. Malcolm just didn’t understand it. It seemed his new wife was a formidable wall he couldn’t penetrate. He used to believe everyone had a weakness, but in this case, he might be wrong.

  “I like you,” Leonard said. “Mother’s right about you. You’ll be a good father.”

  Eyebrows raised, Malcolm looked back at Regan who put her hand up to her mouth to cover another giggle. So she thought it was adorable he was talking to her son. He should have known talking to the lad would be a big mistake. Ever since Melissa had her son, she’d made it a point to mention who was good with children and who wasn’t. Of course, Regan would pay attention to the same thing since she was a mother.

  “Want to know what I did after I ate?” Leonard asked.

  Malcolm figured he was already committed to this conversation. The least he could do was listen to the boy. Besides, the boy was a far safer bet than talking to his mother.

  “Yes,” he told Leonard. “What did you do?”

  From there, Regan and her mother-in-law sat on the settee and talked quietly while Leonard explained everything about his day in surprising detail, something that impressed him. The lad was very intelligent. He just might be the one silver lining to this whole marriage.

  ***

  Regan couldn’t believe how quickly Malcolm and Leonard got along. The two seemed very well matched, and it was incredibly reassuring. She didn’t think she could have picked a better gentleman to fill in the void Frederick had left behind. Melissa had been right about him. He had a good heart for children. She had no doubt Leonard would do well under his care.

  During dinner, she was content to quietly eat while the two talked. Malcolm let Leonard do most of the talking and contributed a comment here or there. For her, the most endearing part of the meal was when Leonard wanted to know what Malcolm did when he was a child.

  Malcolm stopped chewing his steak and shrugged. “I don’t remember.”

  “You don’t remember?” Leonard asked.

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “How long?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?” Leonard turned his wide eyes to her. “How old is he?”

  Malcolm wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin then set it back on his lap. “I’m twenty-five.”

  He looked back at Malcolm. “So how long was it since you were four?”

  “Twenty-one years ago.”

  “That’s a long time!”

  “Not really.”

  “You’re old. It is a long time.”

  Malcolm’s jaw dropped. “Old?”

  Regan glanced down at her plate, struggling to keep in her laughter. Malcolm was much too easy to startle.

  “You’re big,” Leonard said. “Big people are old.”

  “Well, I suppose to someone who is only four, I would seem old, but I assure you I’m not. I’m still young. I have years and years ahead of me. Years to do important things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like make profitable ventures, acquire promising partnerships, and leave behind a legacy.”

  Regan saw the confusion on her son’s face, so she explained, “What he means is that he wants to make more money and have children.”

  “Oh.” Leonard turned his attention back to him. “Why didn’t you say that?”

  “I did,” Malcolm said.

  “Not in a way he could understand you,” she replied with a chuckle before she took a sip of her wine.

  “I’m not used to talking to little people,” Malcolm said. “It’s going to take time to get used to the proper way to do it.”

  She thought it was adorable he referred to children as little people but decided to keep that thought to herself. She turned her attention to the remaining vegetables on her plate.

  “I want a brother or sister,” Leonard told him.

  “When I was your age, I did, too,” Malcolm said.

  “Did you get one?”

  “Yes. I got a sister.”

  “What was her name?”

  “Melissa, but you will call her Lady Toplyn.”

  “Lady Top Pin,” Leonard sounded out.

  At this, Malcolm let out a chuckle. “It fits well enough.”

  Regan shot him a pointed look. “Don’t tell me you’re willing to let my son get your brother-in-law’s title wrong.”

  Malcolm gestured to Leonard and said, “He’s only four. What do you expect?”

  She shook her head. Granted, Malcolm hadn’t been happy when his sister married Logan, but she was surprised he was willing to let Leonard get his title wrong. “I think I might have misjudged you, my dear,” she told him. “There is a small part of you that delights in mischief.”

  He let out a light huff. “That’s not true. The lad is having trouble with the title. I can’t blame him for it.”

  “You’re not trying to help him sound it out right, either.”

  “I just got into this marriage. I can’t be expected to do everything right away. You do it if it’s so important to you.”

  She tried to hold back her chuckle, but she couldn’t help it. “You take things much too seriously, Mr. Jasper. I was only teasing you.” Before he could respond, she stood up and motioned to Leonard. “Come. You need to get ready for bed.” With a wink at Malcolm, she added, “I’ll see you later.”

  At that, he blanched, and she didn’t know whether she should be amused or worried. She couldn’t recall a single gentleman ever being nervous about the wedding night. Such a thing was often the lady’s plight. Even if he wasn’t thrilled to be with her, he should be at least looking forward to the bedchamber.

  Deciding to give it no more thought, she took Leonard to his room and got him ready for bed. After she read to him, she sang a lullaby until he drifted off to sleep. Except for the nights she went to balls, this was her routine with him. One of the most pleasurable moments of her life was being able to look at him while he slept. He always looked so peaceful, and more than that, he reminded her so much of Frederick.

  She leaned forward and kissed his forehead. He shifted but didn’t wake up.

  “I love you,” she whispered then blew out the candle and left the room to see her husband about their wedding night.

  Chapter Nine

  Malcolm locked his bedchamber door. Then, for better measure, he locked the door connecting his bedchamber to hers. Yes, he realized he should be willing to see his bride on his wedding night, but he simply wasn’t in the mood. Everything was happening much too fast, what with the shock and all. He needed some time to get used to being married to Regan.

  There was no doubt about it. His life was so much easier when all he had to do was balance his ledger. His valet had offered to help him undress, but he thought it better to do it himself. Sometimes he wondered if those who had been employed under him were secretly laughing because his wife was already dictating so much of his life. Up to now, he’d always been in charge, doing things he’d wanted to do, whenever he’d wanted to do them.

  Then as soon as he married, he was moving into her townhouse and sitting with her son all afternoon. Not that he minded the lad. Leonard asked a lot of questions, which had grown wearisome as the day drew on, but he was good with details. He had surprising potential. All of these would someday help him manage his money as long as Regan would allow Malcolm the freedom to teach him.

  Probably not. Leonard was her first husband’s son. While she wanted Leonard to have a father figure, he doubted she intended for him to actually step into the role as if he were his father. She had her loyalties to her first husband. If he guessed right, she still adored the gentleman. She hadn’t wished for him to die. That much he knew. Malcolm would have preferred it if her first husband had lived, too. Then he would have been matched up with a lady much more suited for him, but neither one of them could bring Lord Cantrell back from the grave.

  After he was finished undressing, he was ready to put on his nightclothes when a key turned in the lock connecting his bedchamber with Regan’s. Gasping, he picked up the nearest thing to him, which happened to be a pitcher, still full of water. Ignoring the water that splashed on him, he held the pitcher in front of his private region.

  Before he had time to ask her why she dared to come into his bedchamber, she said, “You really didn’t think I had a key to get in?”

  “I locked the door because I didn’t want you here,” he replied, feeling much too exposed, especially in the glow of the candlelight. She was, no doubt, going to be noting the differences between him and her first husband, and who knew if she’d find him lacking?

  “This is our wedding night,” she said, not hiding the surprise in her voice. “Why wouldn’t you want me here? Aren’t you eager to get started on the children you want?”

  “No. I can wait.”

  “Malcolm, I didn’t think it was possible for a gentleman to be apprehensive about his wedding night.”

  “I’m not apprehensive. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day. I need some time alone.”

  “I’ll tell you what.” She shut the door behind her and approached him.

  He backed up, his backside hitting the cabinet behind him.

  “I won’t take up much of your time,” she said, still coming closer to him. “This is your first time, correct?”

  He didn’t want to answer that. It was never good for a gentleman to admit such a thing. Instead, he said, “I’m an important person. Too many gentlemen rely on my expertise to help their businesses thrive.”