The Countess Page 0,69
that Daniel has agreed to her proposal.
They are going to Gretna Green." Christiana beamed as she made the announcement.
"Yes." Richard smiled back. "In fact, I thought we might accompany them and - "
his gaze slid to Suzette and Lisa before he continued, " - renew our own vows. It could be a fresh start for us."
"Oh, how romantic," Lisa breathed and grabbed for Christiana's hands to squeeze them excitedly. "Isn't that wonderful, Chrissy? That's so wonderful,"
she hugged her and then pul ed back to ask, "When do we leave?"
"Now. This afternoon, as soon as I have - "
"No." It wasn't Christiana that said it, but al three sisters together, reacting with the same horror they'd had to his arrival at the bal last night.
"Er . . ." Richard glanced toward Daniel and Langley, but they were both apparently content to stay out of this.
"We cannot possibly pack and prepare for a journey that quickly," Christiana said reasonably, drawing his attention back to the girls. "Why, we shal be lucky to manage it by morning. It wil have to be tomorrow, and then only if we start right away."
Suzette and Lisa nodded agreement and rose, apparently ready to rush off at once. Richard stopped them by raising a hand.
"Now, wait. There is no need to panic. We can manage it today. You needn't pack much, just one change of clothes, we - "
"One change of clothes?" Christiana echoed with dismay. "Richard, it is at least a two day ride from here to York by carriage and Gretna Green must be another day or day and a half after that. We cannot manage with one change of clothes."
"We can make Gretna Green in two days if we ride straight through only stopping to change horses," he assured her gently. "And since we wil not be stopping either way there is no need to don fresh clothes except when we can actual y stop and bathe at an inn in Gretna Green. Besides, I want to take only the one carriage. There would be no room for wardrobes for the six of us and - "
"The six of us?" Lisa squawked. "What about our maids?"
"Lisa is right. We need our maids. I intend to look nice at my wedding and my maid Georgina is the only one who knows how I like to wear my hair. No, your plans just wil not do," Suzette said firmly.
"Christiana and Lisa could help you with your hair," Richard pointed out desperately.
Christiana clucked her tongue impatiently. "Even if we agreed to forgo taking our maids, you cannot expect us to ride for two straight days and nights there and then two more back, the six of us crammed into one tiny carriage. How do you expect us to sleep jostling about in a tiny, cramped carriage with you three large men? No, we shal have to stop each night to rest."
Lisa and Suzette nodded, and then Lisa added, "We shal need at least two carriages, preferably three if we are taking the maids. And we definitely need more than one change of clothes. Let me see, if we stop each night the journey shal likely take four days and three nights there and the same back
. . . We need at least eight outfits each, and then there are night clothes and shoes and - Oh, we real y need to get started if we want to get any sleep at al tonight."
"You are right." Christiana stood and headed for the door. "You two go on up and start choosing what you wish to take. I shal find our maids and join you directly."
Richard stared after Christiana and her sisters as they hurried from the room chattering away. He real y had thought she'd be as eager to get to Gretna Green and legalize their marriage as he was. He was sure she'd enjoyed last night as much as he and would be eager to be able to do it again. It seemed, however, that he hadn't a clue when it came to Christiana. It also looked as if he would be sleeping in the guest bedroom tonight . . . alone.
"I did warn you," Langley said dryly once it was just the three of them. "You should have listened. I have known them al my life, after al ."
"Yes, you have," Richard agreed, turning on him. "And while the women are packing, you can tel us everything you've learned about them in that time."
Chapter