The Countess Page 0,50

and scrubbed his face guiltily.

Daniel had been there listening at the door when the women had gone past. He too knew about the drink and how it had affected Christiana, so knew exactly what state she'd been in. And while it hadn't seemed that important last night when he'd thought her an experienced woman, now, in the bright light of day with his manhood final y quiet, it seemed rather shameful behavior.

Shaking his head, he muttered with self-disgust. "I took advantage of an inebriated virgin."

Woodrow did not let him off the hook, but left him to wal ow in his guilt for several moments before final y clearing his throat and saying, "Wel , at least you are going to do the right thing and stand by the marriage."

"Which isn't even a legal one," Richard muttered, and then his eyes widened suddenly. "What if she is pregnant from last night's tumblings? Technical y, the child would be il egitimate."

"Wel , one time isn't likely to bring about a child," Daniel said soothingly.

Richard grimaced. "True, but it wasn't one time."

"Wel even two . . ." He paused as he noted his expression and then said,

"Three?"

Richard merely stared back.

"Four?"

Richard remained silent.

"Oh," Daniel said, looking impressed. "Wel , she must be very . . . er . . .

inspiring. We must just hope she is not equal y fertile." When Richard's shoulders slumped, he added, "Or you could marry her to ensure everything was legal."

"We are already supposed to be married," Richard pointed out dryly. "How the devil do I explain the need to marry again?"

Daniel opened his mouth, but then glanced to the door. In the next moment, he'd risen and crossed the room to close it. As he returned to his seat they exchanged a grimace at having said so much before thinking to close it, and then Daniel suggested, "Rather than present it as a need, perhaps you could suggest to Christiana that you want to do it again, as a sort of fresh start to the marriage to make up for this last very bad year. She wil think you are the most romantic bugger alive, and you wil be assured that any heirs are legal."

Richard raised his eyebrows. "That is actual y a good idea."

"I have been known to have a good idea or two on occasion," Daniel said dryly, no doubt a bit insulted by his surprised tone. Richard merely grunted, his thoughts on what exactly he would say to Christiana and how he could convince her.

"And then you could travel to Gretna Green with Suzette and me when we head off to do the deed."

"Yes, we could leave - " Richard paused and blinked. "You and Suzette?"

Daniel cleared his throat. "Er . . . yes."

"You're marrying Suzette?" he asked, just to be certain he wasn't misunderstanding.

"I haven't quite made up my mind, though I am leaning that way," Daniel muttered, picking imaginary lint off his trousers. Richard considered him silently, his eyes narrowing as he recal ed the passionate embrace he'd stumbled upon and the fact that the man hadn't rejoined him as he'd expected. Just how long had Daniel been in Suzette's room in the end?

He tried to work it out, running through the events of the evening.

"I haven't tumbled her," Daniel snapped, apparently reading his thoughts, and then he sighed and admitted, "But it was damned close, and only you know who's presence prevented it in the end."

"You know who was in the carriage," Richard said at once.

"Yes, wel , so were Suzette and I," Daniel muttered.

"You had Suzette in the carriage with you know who?" he asked with horror. "Did she know you know who was there?"

she know you know who was there?"

Daniel grimaced. "Can we not think of another name for him? This is getting annoying."

"Answer the damned question."

"Wel , of course she didn't know. Hel , I didn't know until I got in. In fact it was my attempt to distract her from his presence that led to the 'damned close'

bit." He sighed and added, "So it's ironic that it was also his presence that brought an end to it."

Richard almost asked how that could be, but then decided he didn't real y want to know. Running a hand through his hair, he asked, "If you haven't bedded her, why consider marrying her? It's rather sudden, isn't it? You hardly know the chit."

"Wel , I know her as wel as you know Christiana and you're marrying her."

"Christiana is a special woman