emptiness pass between them as she, too, turned back to look at the small tableau. The rapport she had found with Daniel before had just been wishful thinking, after all. They were two completely different people with different backgrounds and different goals. How could she have imagined that he needed her, even for a single minute? Like Peter, he was all business. It was just that Daniel's business was more to her liking than Peter's.
Janice who was evading Daniel's question by murmuring something about medicine not being necessary. Georgina didn't think it took a woman to understand that Janice was too proud to admit that they couldn't afford the doctor or medicine, but it might take a woman to tactfully suggest a solution.
Before Daniel could reply, she interrupted. "Which doctor do you use?"
Janice frowned, but said, "Dr. Phelps."
Georgina nodded her head knowingly. "Dr. Phelps owes me a favor or two. I think it's time to call them in. Why don't I send him over here just to make certain Betsy doesn't need something else? He won't charge you if he knows what's good for him."
Daniel's hand closed over Georgina's shoulder as he talked over Janice's protest. "We'll go do that right now. But if you don't mind, I'd like you to think if there aren't some other women from Hanover Industries who might be interested in talking to us—maybe some who don't work there anymore. Make a list, and we'll come by to get it later. Is Douglas still going to help with the deliveries? I'm expecting this next edition to really raise dust."
He understood. Georgina sighed in relief and stood up, taking Daniel's arm as he led her toward the door with Janice's assurances that her brother would be ready. He had not only understood what she had tried to do, but he had helped her. She would dearly like to meet the family that had raised this marvelous man. And then tell them to break his habit of telling lies.
Outside, as they hurried down the street, Daniel glanced down at her and asked, "You don't really know Dr. Phelps, do you?"
Georgina smiled blithely. "Never heard of him. But I have my quarterly allowance and I'm certain he will go anywhere we ask with the proper enticement. That child looked horribly ill to me."
"She had a fever that injured her heart. She probably won't live to be an adult. Are you sure you want to throw away your coins? There won't be any more where those came from."
Georgina jerked her hand away and glared at him. "Stuff it up your shirt, Mulloney." She stalked away without a backward glance.
Daniel's laughter followed her up the street.
It was a heck of a way to start a marriage, but much better than contemplating what would happen in the night to come.
Chapter 16
"You did what?"
The man behind the massive desk leapt up and glared at his eldest son as if he had taken off his head and bounced it on the floor.
Peter shoved his hands in his pockets and glared back. "I wasn't going to let her be ruined by that scoundrel. It serves them both right. What I want to know is where he got the name. I haven't been down to the courthouse yet, but he swears his name is Mulloney and that he's my brother. Even an ass wouldn't make that claim unless he has something to back it up."
Artemis Mulloney went white, whether with rage or some other emotion wasn't easily discernible. His fingers locked around the desk, and the light from the window behind shadowed his face, making it impossible to read his expression. "The lying, conniving son of a..." He halted in mid-curse, straightened up, and took his seat. "His intent is evident, of course. It's a simple enough matter to forge documents. I'm not certain how he found out, but he has evidently done his research. We've not mentioned it to any of you because it never seemed important, but there was a child born before you, a son. He died within three days of his birth. He's buried in the family cemetery. You can see the stone for yourself. It reads 'Daniel Ewan Mulloney.' "
Peter took the first deep breath of the morning. "I knew there had to be an explanation. The bastard is trying to pass himself off as one of us so he can walk in and claim his share of our wealth and Georgina's, too. Do you think he means to take