The Countess Page 0,81

. Thank God he's dead. Amen."

Christiana blinked her eyes open and gaped at her sister.

"That works for me," Daniel said with amusement. "Short, sweet and honest."

Christiana sighed, sure something more should have been said, but at the same time knowing Daniel was right. It was certainly honest. There wasn't a person there who wasn't glad the man was dead.

She started to turn toward the steps leading back out of the vault, but paused at the sight of a man standing there, a silhouette against the lighter backdrop of early evening outside.

"Reverend Bertrand," Richard said with surprise.

"I arrived as your driver was bringing the carriage around the house. He said you'd come to the vault and I presumed it was to visit your brother," the man said quietly. "Imagine my surprise when I realized it was to lay him to rest here."

Christiana heard Richard curse and bit her lip as he moved quickly past her to mount the steps.

"If you'l come with me to my office, I wil explain," he said quietly as he urged the pastor out of the vault. Christiana and the rest of their group fol owed, more than eager to escape the musty atmosphere with its pal of death. Richard had started to lead the reverend away, but paused and glanced back to suggest, "Christiana, perhaps you could greet the staff and arrange for a basket of food to be packed for the trip back to London?"

"Yes, of course," she said at once.

"Thank you," he said and then continued forward with the pastor.

"Do you think we should go with him to back him up on the story?" Robert asked with a frown. Daniel considered the question, but shook his head. "He'l send for us if he needs assistance."

They were al silent as they watched Richard lead the pastor not around to the front of the house, but in through a pair of French doors Christiana thought must lead to the office here.

"Wel ," Daniel said as the two men disappeared. "Shal we?"

Christiana nodded and started forward, leading the way around the house to the front door. The servants were al lined up on either side of the hal when she opened the door and led the way inside. Some time was spent explaining that Lord Radnor had been detained and would be along shortly. Fortunately, the butler recognized Christiana from her one visit and made introductions to the rest of the staff. There was a good number of them, however, and it took longer than she would have liked to meet everyone, but she didn't feel she could be rude and refuse so smiled and shook hands and nodded to everyone from the housekeeper to the lowliest maid. They had just finished with the last introduction and Christiana was about to ask to have a word with Cook when one of the hal doors opened and Richard peered out.

"Christiana, can you come here please?" he asked and then peered back into the room to listen to something the reverend was saying. He then turned back to say, "Actual y, if everyone would come in here, that would be good."

He then left the door open and moved out of sight. Richard was standing talking to the pastor next to a large, dark wood desk by the French doors when Christiana entered. She moved immediately to his side, catching the pastor's last words as he said, "absolutely legal."

"What is?" she asked, pausing beside Richard.

He glanced down at her and smiled. "The wedding Reverend Bertrand has agreed to perform for us."

Christiana's eyes widened and she glanced to the holy man in question.

"My lady," the pastor said, taking her hand and smiling at her kindly. "I am sorry to hear of al the troubles you and his lordship have suffered this last year. George always did seem to have the devil in him. Stil , I am a little surprised and saddened to hear just how much devil." He patted her hand. "We'l set this right today, though, and make it al legal. And I don't see any reason anyone else need know about it. George did enough damage without us adding to it, and it seems God meted out his own punishment."

"Thank you," Christiana murmured.

"If we're ready then?" Reverend Bertrand asked glancing to Richard.

He nodded and turned toward Daniel, but then paused with surprise. Seeing his expression, Christiana glanced about the room, her own eyes widening. It wasn't just Daniel, Robert, Suzette and Lisa who had fol owed them into