The Countess Page 0,38

marriage might improve. Or did it? She was so confused and real y wished she hadn't had those drinks at the bal .

"Not that again," Lisa said on a sigh.

"What?" Christiana asked uncertainly.

"This Dicky's bottom business," Lisa said with disgust.

"Seeing Dicky's naked bottom could fix everything," Christiana insisted, her mood lightening at the very thought. If there was no strawberry, she would know it was George, that he was a cold murderous bastard and that there was definitely no chance for their marriage whether he kissed her or not. Of course, if there was a birthmark, then things would get more complicated. She could stil have the marriage annul ed, or she could give it another chance and maybe experience his kisses, or she could experience his kisses and not give it a chance. Either way she could have the marriage annul ed, she thought and then tried to remember why she had to see the strawberry at al . Oh, that was right. "If there is no strawberry, I'm married to George."

"George is dead," Lisa said patiently. "You cannot marry - Oh, Chrissy."

Christiana peered at the girl, wondering why she suddenly looked alarmed . . .

and why there were two of her moving in circles in front of her eyes.

Giving her head a shake to try to clear her vision, she asked, "What?"

"Please tel me you are not thinking of ending your own life," Lisa said worriedly.

"Of course not," she said at once, and Lisa began to relax until she added, "I'm ending Dicky's. Or George's." Certainly his life would be over if he was George and what he had done came out. Of course, that was only if Dicky was George and not Richard, she realized and added, "Wel , maybe. It just depends on if there's a strawberry or not."

Lisa stared at her blankly for several minutes, her lips pursed, then cleared her throat and stood up. "I think perhaps we should talk about this in the morning when your thinking is clearer."

"Very wel ," Christiana said cheerful y and dropped back in her bed to contemplate how she might see Dicky's naked bottom. It suddenly seemed the most important thing in the world to accomplish it as soon as possible.

Chapter Seven

Richard pressed an ear to Suzette's door, trying to hear what was happening inside so he could decide how to proceed. He couldn't just knock on the door and ask for Daniel, the man wasn't supposed to be in there. But if anything scandalous was happening in that room, he bloody wel would. Suzette wasn't legal y his sister, but he felt a certain responsibility to the young woman. She was staying in what was ultimately his home, under his protection, and while he didn't think Daniel would do anything like debauch Christiana's sister, something was holding him up. He'd barely made out the sound of soft murmurs when the opening of a door further up the hal made Richard straighten abruptly. Instinct had him shifting quickly away from Suzie's door to prevent being caught loitering outside it and by the time Lisa stepped into the hal from Christiana's room, Richard was walking toward her as if merely heading for his own bed.

"Oh." Blushing at being caught in her nightgown and robe, Lisa managed a weak smile and murmured, "I just wanted to have a word with Chrissy."

"Of course," Richard said as they passed each other. He then continued to the door to his room. Once there, he glanced over his shoulder and - seeing Lisa by her own door, biting her lip as she watched him - he forced a smile and turned the knob . . . only the knob didn't turn.

"Oh! We forgot to unlock it," Lisa said softly and scurried up the hal toward him.

She patted her pockets as she came as if the key might be in her robe.

Halfway to him, she paused with dismay. "Suzie has the key."

She whirled back as if to rush to Suzette's door to get the key from her sister, but Richard forestal ed her by saying, " 'Tis al right. Let her sleep. I wil go through Christiana's room. We can unlock the door on the morrow."

Lisa paused and glanced back, then merely stood there looking uncertain. Afraid she might stil go to Suzette and catch Daniel inside, he quickly moved to the door of Christiana's room. Richard paused there briefly, but final y murmured good night, opened the door and slipped into