The Countess Page 0,22

that he shouldn't have needed to marry for more."

"Al the money in the world would not be enough for George," Richard said grimly.

"He always wanted more of everything. It was like he was trying to fil the hole where his soul should have been with things." He scowled at the thought of his brother and then glanced back to Daniel and said, "I can see him having taken Christiana's father to this shady gaming hel the first time to force him to the edge of ruin and gain her fortune, but why would he take him there again now? He had already married one sister. He couldn't claim the dower of either of the others, and al he accomplished was possibly bringing scandal down on everyone. Christiana would not have avoided the scandal, which meant it would taint him as wel . What profit is there in that?"

Daniel frowned and shook his head. "I have been wondering that myself, but have not yet come up with anything. He must have had some plan in mind, but I cannot see what it might have been."

Richard scowled with displeasure at the mystery and glanced back to the woman in Langley's arms. "So to reclaim my name and birthright I shal have to ruin a woman who has already been sorely mistreated by my brother."

"And probably battle in court for months or even years to prove you are Richard Fairgrave, or a Fairgrave at al ," Daniel said quietly. "And then even if the courts eventual y decide in your favor, there wil stil be those in the ton who think you an imposter."

"Damn George," Richard breathed wearily. "As usual, he has made one hel of a mess."

"There is an alternative," Daniel said tentatively.

Richard glanced at him narrowly. "Do not even suggest I forsake everything and slink back to America. While I have no desire to ruin Lady Christiana and her family, I also have no desire to give up my rightful title and place. It is al I have."

"I wasn't going to suggest that," Daniel assured him.

"Then what is the alternative?"

"You could simply take up your place again as if you'd never been away," he said quietly.

"What?" Richard asked with amazement.

"Wel , you cannot gain justice from George, he is apparently dead," Daniel pointed out. "So, revealing what he did wil only succeed in hurting innocents. Besides, by merely stepping in and taking up your position again, you can avoid a long drawn-out battle to prove you are who you are. It wil be as if your stay in America never happened . . . except that it did and you would now have a wife."

"A wife who hates me," Richard muttered, his gaze returning to the woman in question. She was laughing at something Langley had said. With her face alight and softened by amusement she almost looked pretty, he decided, and recal ed their dance. She hadn't seemed to hate him by the end of the dance. In fact, he was quite sure if he'd managed to get her out on the balcony she wouldn't have fought off his kisses.

"She hates George not you," Daniel corrected quietly. "And who could blame her.

The man was a bastard as we both wel know. But you are a different kettle of fish.

With a little time I suspect she wil let go of that anger and come to trust you. The two of you might even make a good match of it." He was silent for a moment and then added, "Whatever the case, it would make reclaiming your title and position that much easier and would prevent Christiana and her sisters from further hurt by your brother's actions."

Richard frowned. The suggestion was not without merit. He had no desire to destroy Christiana, nor did he wish a long drawn-out court battle simply to claim his own name. However, while there was a bit of hope in their response to each other on the dance floor, it was little to gamble his future on. He didn't know the woman and was reluctant to take such a step blindly.

"What if it turns out she is a shrew?" he asked quietly. "Or a bitter ice maiden?

Or a spoiled brat with whom I cannot bear to deal?"

"Hmm." Daniel peered at the woman in question. "She does not seem to be any of those things, but then few reveal their true faces in public." He considered the matter for a moment and then suggested. "Wel , we could