The Countess Page 0,92

the responsibility when Richard had asked if she'd be wil ing to handle the interviews. George wouldn't have.

"Good." He smiled, and offered a hand as she pul ed the robe around herself and pushed the blankets away. Holding the robe closed with one hand, Christiana clasped his fingers with the other and got out of bed, ducking her head and blushing as she realized that

- despite her best effort - she'd flashed quite a bit of leg. She kept her head bowed, fussing nervously as she tied the sash, and then stiffened with surprise when Richard suddenly caught her under the chin and tipped her face up to his.

"Good morning." The words were a soft whisper as his mouth descended to hers.

Christiana remained stil and self-conscious under the gentle caress, unsure how to respond. She wanted to throw her arms around his neck, press her body to his and open her mouth to him in a most wanton fashion. However, it was the middle of the morning. She wasn't sure he would welcome such a brazen display in the light of day, so she merely stood stil and waited to see if he would deepen the kiss. Much to her disappointment, he didn't, but ended it with a little sigh and straightened.

"I suppose I should let you start your day. I'l be downstairs waiting with the others."

Christiana watched him go with confusion. He seemed somehow disappointed and she wasn't sure why.

"Come take your bath before it gets cold."

Christiana glanced around with surprise to see Grace standing next to the steaming tub. She hadn't noticed the woman's presence on first waking, and now smiled in greeting as she crossed the room. "Your carriage made it back al right then?"

"I gather we didn't arrive long after your carriage did." Grace moved to col ect a cloth and soap as Christiana removed the robe she'd just donned and stepped into the tub. She then returned to the tub and knelt to wash her back for her, commenting, "His lordship seems a good man."

"Aye," Christiana murmured noncommittal y.

"He has proven himself thoughtful, arranging the bath to be brought up for you, and letting you sleep as late as he could while it was prepared."

Christiana nodded, and accepted the cloth to wash the rest of herself when Grace finished and straightened.

"And he's trusting you to interview the servants as wel ." Grace moved to col ect a gown for her to wear once she'd finished. "Dicky-George didn't trust you to buckle your own shoes."

"No, he didn't," she agreed with a grimace. The man had thought her useless. At least, that was how he'd made her feel this last year.

"And though they were born brothers and twins, Richard is obviously nothing like George was."

Christiana remained silent. Everything Grace said was true. So far, Richard seemed to be a good man. He hadn't yet criticized her or treated her coldly, and he had been in her bed twice now, even before the ceremony at Radnor, which was definitely different from George. But George had seemed to be wonderful and caring when he was courting her, and yet had proven to be nothing like that once they were married.

"He'l make you happy," Grace added firmly when Christiana remained silent. "If you let him."

She glanced to the maid with surprise. "What do you mean, if I let him?"

Grace set aside the clothes she'd gathered and moved back to the tub. "Child, I know George hurt you. You thought you loved him and he betrayed you by turning into the cold, critical man who has tormented you this last year. But Richard isn't George."

"I know that," Christiana muttered, turning her face away and continuing to wash herself as she admitted, "And I know now that I didn't real y love George. I loved the romantic hero he pretended to be, but that man didn't exist and the real man . . ."

She shrugged wearily and dipped the cloth in the water with a sigh.

"Richard isn't George," Grace repeated solemnly.

"But what if he too isn't the man he appears to be now? How do I know he wil not turn just as George did?" Christiana asked almost plaintively. Tears glazed her eyes and she shook her head on a sigh, confusion rife within her. She wasn't sure why she wanted to cry, and then she was and admitted, "I'm afraid."

"George turned the moment the 'I dos' were said, or very nearly," Grace pointed out. "He also didn't even consummate the