The Countess Page 0,21

Daniel pointed out, drawing a sharp look from Richard.

"What do you mean?"

"Wel , this last year everyone has thought it was George who died in the townhouse fire. The man now apparently lying packed in ice in your room has been pretending to be you al that time. There wil definitely be some confusion. They might think you are George, survived the fire, and are merely trying to claim to be Richard to ensure you inherit al without the necessity of waiting for his wil to be validated. Or they might even decide you are merely your father's byblow, fortunate enough to look like the twins, and greedily trying to claim their wealth and title now they are both dead. After al , George was supposedly buried over a year ago."

Richard grimaced. The man buried in the family vault was one of the criminals who had been sent to kil him. The man had been about his height and size. Found on his bed and charred to a cinder, no one had been able to tel any different. They'd al just assumed it was him, but Richard knew different and removing the vermin from the family vault was only one of many things he wanted to do once instal ed safely back in his rightful place. If he managed to get there, he thought grimly.

"We shal have to prove your identity . . . somehow," Daniel said in a tone that suggested he was concerned about their ability to do it. "And then there is the scandal that shal befal everyone. Lady Christiana married who she thought was Richard Fairgrave, the Earl of Radnor, over a year ago and has been living with him since that time."

"But it wasn't me," Richard pointed out quietly.

"No. It was George, but he signed your name on the license and contract."

Richard frowned. "The marriage wouldn't be legal. She is married neither to myself nor George."

"Exactly. The scandal shal surely be the ruin of her . . . as wel as her sisters.

They won't escape it either . . . which is a true shame when they are already working so hard to avoid the scandal their father has tipped them into with his gambling."

"Christiana mentioned something about that," Richard said on a sigh, his gaze sliding back to the woman in Langley's arms. "Suzette needs to find a husband quickly so she can claim her dower and save them from their father's gaming debts.

Christiana seemed to think I, or George, real y, caused it al by taking their father to a gaming hel ."

"Hmmm."

Something in his tone made Richard glance Daniel's way again and he raised an eyebrow at his sour expression. "What?"

"After leaving the women, I took a moment to ask around before returning to you and there is some interesting gossip floating about."

Richard narrowed his eyes. "What kind of gossip?"

"Apparently the Earl of Radnor has become quite chummy with a few unsavory characters about town; the owner of a certain gaming hel , for instance, one that is suspected of drugging the drinks of certain unwary lords and fleecing them of al that they own."

"Christiana's father?"

"That would be my guess. And it wouldn't have been the first time. I suspect George was behind the first supposed losses as wel , and did it deliberately to force the man to the edge of ruin so that he could offer for Christiana's hand," Daniel said grimly, and then explained. "Christiana and her sisters are the granddaughters of Lord Sefton."

"Old moneybags?" Richard asked with surprise. The Baron had been rumored to be richer than the King. Daniel nodded. "He apparently divided his estate into three parts and put it in trusts for the girls, to be turned over on their marriage. However, he arranged it al so that it would be a secret. He had no desire to have his granddaughters hunted by fortune seekers."

"Then how do you know about it?" Richard asked dryly.

"Because Suzette just explained it to me," he admitted with wry amusement.

Richard narrowed his eyes. "Why on earth would she do that when the two of you just met?"

"I'l explain that later," Daniel muttered, glancing away. "Right now, the important thing is that Suzette thinks Dicky somehow found out about the dower and married Christiana to get it."

"I could see that being the case," Richard said dryly.

"Real y?" Daniel asked with a frown. "I did wonder, but he gained so much wealth when he got rid of you and took your place