The Countess Page 0,26

man who helps me make them.

Besides, Dicky isn't dead so the urgency has been removed. I have two weeks now to find a husband."

"Oh, of course," Christiana murmured and got wearily to her feet.

"You found them."

Christiana turned to Langley as he approached with two glasses in hand.

"Yes. Wel , actual y, they found me, and are quite ready to go," she admitted, and then reached for the nearer glass he held and asked, "Is that for me?"

"Yes," he murmured sounding distracted as he glanced to Lisa. He then frowned and glanced back to her with surprise and said, "No!"

It was too late, however, Christiana had already taken the glass and quickly gulped down its contents, barely tasting it in her effort to finish it off so they could leave. She was already lowering the glass when she realized the liquid she'd swal owed was burning a trail down her throat and splashing into her stomach like liquid fire. Whiskey again, she realized and drew in one long gasping breath as the air seemed to be sucked out of her. That breath was then fol owed by a deep, nasty fit of coughing.

"I'm sorry," Langley said thumping her back with his free hand. "That was whiskey for me. The other glass was for you."

Gasping for breath as she straightened, Christiana took the glass of punch, quickly drinking that down now in the hopes of clearing her throat. Her eyes widened incredulously as a second wave of heat poured down her throat.

"Oh dear," Langley muttered.

"Oh dear, what?" Suzette asked grimly, eyeing Christiana with concern.

"That was the Regent's punch," Robert said on a sigh, taking the glass from Christiana as she burst into another round of coughing.

"Regent's punch?" Lisa asked, rubbing Christiana's back.

"Rum, brandy, arrack and champagne with some tea, pineapple syrup and a couple other ingredients thrown in for flavor," he explained dryly.

"Wel , judging by Christiana's reaction there was precious little of those other ingredients in it," Suzette said dryly. Robert grimaced. "Lady Landon usual y has her staff make it stronger as the night goes on. She is sure it is the reason her bal s are always so wel attended and such a success."

"Bril iant," Suzette muttered.

"Are you al right, Chrissy?" Lisa asked with concern when Christiana's second round of coughing final y began to subside. She nodded, her breath stil too raspy to respond, but she wasn't at al sure that was true. The two drinks seemed to be hitting her hard. Dear God, her head was spinning and spots were floating before her eyes, though whether that was from the whiskey or her coughing fit she couldn't tel . She took another moment to regain her composure under the concerned gazes of Suzette, Lisa and Langley, then forced a smile and suggested, "We should be going."

"Are you sure you are al right?" Langley asked with a frown. "You are stil quite flushed."

Christiana grimaced, but nodded and turned careful y in search of the exit. "We are al tired. A good night's rest wil do us good. Besides, I have something to look into if you'l recal ?"

"What's that?" Lisa asked even as Langley suggested, "Perhaps you should leave that for another night now, Chrissy. You are not used to liquor and it may go straight to your head."

Christiana shook her head. "The first glass didn't affect me that badly, and this hasn't either except to steal my breath. It wil be fine. I shal let you know what I find out."

"What are you two talking about?" Lisa asked impatiently, concern tautening her expression.

"Nothing you need worry about," Christiana assured her, beginning to lead the way out of the bal room. "Just something I need to check with Dicky about."

Chapter Five

The window is open. That's a bit of good luck."

Richard stopped climbing at Daniel's murmured comment and peered toward the window in question. It had taken some poking about, but after climbing several trees and checking the windows of several rooms, they'd deduced this was the master bedroom. At least they hoped it was. Richard didn't have a clue. His own townhouse had burned to the ground in the fire that was supposed to have kil ed him, and he didn't know the layout of this new one George had purchased afterward.

"They probably left it open to keep the body cool," he said as he continued to climb, pul ing himself up branch after branch until he reached the large thick one that stretched toward the open