The Countess Page 0,29

suspected. Hopeful y it wouldn't be locked. He picked up his end again and nodded toward the door. "That way."

Daniel immediately began to back across the room. Both of them sighed with relief when he set down his end, tried the doorknob and it turned. He then started to push the door open wide, but stopped abruptly and instead pul ed it closed.

"What is it?"

"There's a woman sleeping in a chair by the fire," Daniel hissed.

Richard hesitated and then eased the end of George he was holding to the floor and moved over to ease the door open and look for himself. Sure enough, a middle-aged woman was slumped in a chair by the fire, snoring softly. Probably Christiana's lady's maid, Richard thought. Grimacing, he eased the door closed and briefly leaned his forehead against it.

"What do we do now?" Daniel asked.

Richard straightened and turned back to his blanket-wrapped brother. Bending, he caught the stiff body around the waist and lifted him. He then straightened, hefting George a little higher against his chest so that his feet didn't hit the floor.

"Are you going to be able to carry him like that?" Daniel asked in a concerned whisper.

"I've been working a farm the last year, Daniel, I'l be fine. And this wil be faster than the two of us dragging him about. If we're quick and quiet we should get through the room without waking the maid." Richard wasn't sure that was true, but he was hoping. Fortunately, Daniel didn't argue the point, but helped him lift George even higher until he clasped him around the upper legs just below his bottom. It left Richard's legs free to move without bumping into George every step. Once he was sure he had a good grip on George, he said, "You'l have to get the doors."

Daniel nodded and moved to the door to the connecting bedroom again. He eased it open just enough to peer inside, then apparently finding the maid stil sleeping, he pul ed it wide and gestured for him to hurry.

Richard took a deep breath and started forward at once with his burden. He didn't breathe again, however, until they'd crossed the room and Daniel opened the door and ushered him out into the hal .

"Dear God, Richard, for a minute there I thought we were done for," Daniel gasped once he had the door safely closed.

"Now we just have to make it out of the house," Richard muttered, starting forward. He was eager to get out of the house before they encountered anyone else, and had just reached the stairs when the front door suddenly opened below.

Heart stopping, he immediately backed up, crashing into an unsuspecting Daniel.

Fortunately, the man kept his feet and quickly turned to get out of the way. The two scurried back up the hal until Daniel had the sense to try one of the doors. Finding it open, he waved Richard in with his burden and fol owed, then pul ed the door closed and stood with his ear pressed to it. Richard waited in the darkness, his brother's blanket-wrapped body pressing to his chest, and final y asked, "Do you hear anything?"

"They're talking," Daniel whispered. "I think they're stil in the entry."

Richard shifted closer, stepping up behind Daniel to better hear what was being said.

"I swear he was dead, Chrissy. He was growing cold when we left tonight."

Christiana grimaced at Lisa's distressed words, but concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, and merely muttered, "He must have made a deal with the devil to come back."

"Hush, one of the servants wil hear," Suzette cautioned as she closed the front door. The words had barely left her lips when Haversham appeared at the end of the hal , hurrying toward them.

Christiana waved the man away. They didn't need help. Besides she didn't want him to witness her in this shape. Those drinks she'd had were rather having an effect now.

"Are you al right, Chrissy?" Suzette asked, taking her arm to steady her. "You are not at al steady on your feet."

"I'm fine," Christiana answered, but wasn't al that sure she was. While she hadn't noticed much amiss during the short ride home, when she'd risen to alight from the carriage, the world had suddenly tilted a bit and she'd nearly tumbled out of the contraption. Fortunately, the coachmen had been there to catch her arm and steady her much as Suzie was doing now.

"I fear those drinks Langley gave her may have