The Countess Page 0,103

know in an instant if someone tried to take my place, even if they were my twin."

"I'm sure Grace would realize at once too, if a twin tried to take my place, or at least rather quickly." She frowned. "In fact, that's why George ordered Richard's valet to be murdered. He feared the man would know that he wasn't Richard."

"Wel there you are," Suzette said quietly. "It's just as likely that George's valet wil notice something amiss with Richard and suspect he isn't the master he has served this last year."

"Twenty years," Christiana corrected and when Suzette raised her eyebrows in question, she explained thoughtful y, "Dicky once said that Freddy had been with him for twenty years, they pretty much grew up together."

"Hmm." Suzette grimaced. "Then Richard definitely wouldn't be able to fool him."

"No," she agreed grimly. "And George wouldn't have been able to fool him into thinking he was real y Richard."

Suzette's eyes widened with realization. "Freddy had to know what George had done."

"Yes. He could be the blackmailer," she exclaimed with excitement, and then just as swiftly shook her head. "But he has been il since the day you and Lisa arrived and hasn't been to assist Dicky-George since, so can't yet know he's now Richard again."

"Are you sure about that?" Suzette asked.

"That he's sick?" Christiana asked with surprise. "Haversham told us Freddy was il when he caught us with Dicky in the rug. Why would he lie?"

"I'm not suggesting he lied," Suzette said. "But just because this Freddy is il doesn't necessarily mean he has been confined to bed al this time. Maybe he has been up and saw or heard something that made him realize Richard was back and George gone."

Christiana sank back in her chair with a frown. What Suzette suggested was more than possible. Il or not, Freddy would have to get up to eat and drink and tend to other functions. Cook was busy enough she probably wouldn't tend to him like an il child unless he was at death's door, and Haversham had not suggested the ailment was that desperate. The man probably had been up and about and while it was most likely that he'd stuck to the back of the house, it was possible he had seen Richard at some point or other. He may even have gone in search of Dicky to explain his il ness and seen him then, though Richard hadn't mentioned seeing the man. But then Freddy could have seen Richard without his even noticing. Servants, at least the good ones, could go about their business in an unobtrusive way that ensured their presence went without note. Nodding, she stood up abruptly. "You're right, and it's certainly worth checking into at least. I wil ask Haversham to send him to us. He wil be our next interview."

Suzette nodded. "I have a good feeling about this."

Christiana too thought they may have struck on something with Freddy. She didn't think for a minute that he might be the servant who had poisoned DickyGeorge. The man had always been obsequious and toadying with Dicky. But she was suddenly almost positive that he might be their blackmailer. The hal was empty when Christiana stepped into it and she started toward the kitchen, glancing into each room in search of Haversham as she went. The man usual y appeared the moment she stepped into the hal . Actual y, she suspected he was usual y hanging about listening at doors. It appeared he wasn't today, however, and she didn't see him in any of the main-floor rooms. Frowning, she made her way into the kitchen, but he wasn't there either. Giving up on the man, she asked one of the kitchen girls where Freddy's room was and then went to fetch the man herself. She'd intended to simply knock on his door and request that he come join her and Suzette in the office, however when she arrived at the room she'd been directed to, she found the door ajar. After a hesitation, she pushed it open, cal ing out, "Freddy?"

There was no answer and no one in the room, she saw as the door swung open.

The bed was also made with no sign that a sick man had just risen from it. Frowning, Christiana turned to leave, but paused with a start when she found the man in question standing behind her.

"Oh, Freddy! You gave me a start. I was just going to ask you to come to the