Breaking the Rules (Marriage by Design Book 1) by Ruth Ann Nordin

Author:Ruth Ann Nordin [Nordin, Ruth Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2020-02-26T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Roger moved the pawn on the chessboard.

Across from him, Aaron took a drink of his brandy. “I’m glad to see you’re more attentive to the game today. Getting more sleep was just what you needed.”

It hadn’t been easy, but Roger had been so tired that he had, finally, been able to go to sleep last night. It’d been wonderful. When he was asleep, he didn’t have a care in the world, and those first few moments when he woke up and couldn’t remember why he’d been so miserable were the best moments of his entire day. It was too bad that reality quickly sank in to remind him that all was not well in his world.

But he was determined to push that out of his mind. He couldn’t spend his entire life moping. Aaron was right. He needed to overcome his feelings. His emotions didn’t have to win out. He could be stronger than them. Logic must rule the day. And today, he felt more optimistic than he had since Lilly kissed him at the ball.

Aaron studied the pieces on the chessboard then rubbed his chin. “Maybe I shouldn’t have encouraged you to get a good night’s rest. I think I just got myself in trouble. You might win this game.”

Roger chuckled. “You need to be careful. Sometimes your advice can come back to haunt you.”

“Indeed.” With an amused grin, he moved one of his pieces then took another sip of his brandy.

“That wasn’t the best move you could have made.”

“Can you think of one that would have been better?”

Roger took a good look at the board, and after taking a minute to judge all of the possible moves his friend could have made, said, “No, I can’t. I suppose you’re doomed to lose the game.”

“Yes, I figured as much.”

Roger was ready to move one of his pieces when he noticed a gentleman coming their way.

“I hope I’m not intruding on your game,” Lord Valentine said. “If I am, I can come back.”

Aaron waved for him to stay. “I lost. It’s only a matter of time before my friend collects all of my pieces. There’s no sense in letting the pain of defeat linger. Pull up a chair.”

As Lord Valentine hastened to do so, Roger picked up his own glass of brandy and took a drink. Yes, he felt much better. And that was nice. He almost felt like his old self.

Lord Valentine sat down and clasped his hands in his lap.

Roger waited for him to say something, but when he didn’t, Roger asked, “What do you want?”

“Oh, right.” Lord Valentine’s face went red as he shifted in the chair. “I came to speak specifically to you.” He glanced at Aaron. “Not that I don’t wish to speak to you. I would never imply such a thing, Lord Northton. You’re just as important as Mr. Morris is. I never meant to imply otherwise. It’s just that—”

“I understand,” Aaron said. “I don’t mind if you talk to Mr. Morris.”

Lord Valentine didn’t hide his relief.

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