The Countess (6 page)

Christiana stared at him blankly. “Well . . . I—he—I think it—I don’t know,” she admitted, now scarlet herself. She shrugged helplessly and confessed, “I’m not quite sure what the consummation includes. Father simply said ‘Just do what he says and your husband will manage the rest.’ I did as he said and assumed what Dicky did was the consummation.”

“Of course,” he muttered, avoiding her eyes briefly, then cleared his throat. “You said he didn’t even take off his cravat on your wedding night, but did he take off anything else?”

She considered the question briefly, and then offered, “I think he took off his shoes.”

Langley grimaced impatiently. “What about his pants? Did he take them off or at least open them or pull them down?”

“I don’t think so,” she said slowly.

“You don’t
think
so?” he asked incredulously. “Were you even there? How could you not know if he took off his pants or not?”

Christiana scowled, half angry and half embarrassed, and then glanced around to be sure none of the other dancers were listening in on the conversation. Reassured that no one appeared to be paying them any attention, she glanced back to Langley and hissed, “I was bathed and powdered, dressed in a gown and propped in bed and then he came in and put out the candle. There was a thud and then another I assumed was his shoes hitting the floor and then he climbed on top of me, rocked about a bit as if riding a horse, then rolled off and said, “There. It is consummated.” I have no idea if he took anything else off but his shoes, but it didn’t seem to me he had time to disrobe further between putting out the candle and climbing on top of me.”

“You were under the blankets?” Langley asked sharply. When she nodded, he asked, “And he was on top?”

Christiana bit her lip at the growing excitement in his expression. “That was wrong, wasn’t it? I did wonder, but Dicky said it was consummated, and I had no one to ask, so . . .”

“Dicky
,” he muttered with disgust. “It’s no wonder Richard hated that name. I do as well.” He let his breath out on a little huff and then suddenly smiled. “That doesn’t matter. However, what does is the fact that, from your description, the marriage certainly hasn’t been consummated. We can take you to a doctor now this very night. He can examine you, proclaim you still a virgin, and we can have the marriage annulled at once. There would still be a scandal, but not much of one compared to the alternative.”

“The alternative being proving he doesn’t have the birthmark and is really George masquerading as his brother, which would mean the wedding wasn’t valid and I have been living with him without benefit of marriage?” she asked quietly.

Langley’s smile faded, but he nodded.

“You do realize that if he is George and has taken his brother’s place . . . Well, we simply can’t allow him to get away with it,” she pointed out gently. “We would have to tell someone.”

“At the expense of you, Suzie and Lisa suffering a maelstrom of scandal?” Langley asked grimly.

She hesitated, but then nodded.

“You always did have an implacable belief in justice,” Langley muttered with frustration.

Christiana smiled faintly, but then sighed. An annulment would certainly be less scandalous than possible murder, stealing a man’s name and living in sin. But if the man she thought she married really was George Fairgrave, he was even more dastardly than she’d thought, and should be stopped and brought to justice. Still, she would rather do so with as little damage to herself and her family as possible and there was really no rush for justice.

“Why do we not find out what is what before we worry about anything else,” she suggested quietly. “I shall see if he has the birthmark or not. If he does, he is Richard, I will be examined, be proven a virgin, and I will simply go for an annulment. If he doesn’t and he is George, I will still be examined, be proven a virgin, and go for the annulment, but then, once the dust has settled, we can see about reporting him to the authorities,” she suggested. “That little bit of distance might be enough to protect Suzie and Lisa, or it would at least give them the chance to find husbands before the scandal hits . . . husbands who hopefully have powerful families who can help protect them.”

Langley was silent for a moment, and then nodded reluctantly. “I would prefer you were away from him at once. However, doing it your way may cause the least damage all the way around.”

“I think it’s for the best.”

“Aye, well, be as quick as you can about seeing if he has the birthmark, Chrissy. Do it tonight if you can manage it. I have a bad feeling that you might be in danger and the sooner you are away from him the better I will feel.”

Christiana smiled gently and squeezed the hand holding hers as they danced. “You always were a good friend, Robert. I have missed you this last year.”

He nodded acknowledgment of the praise, then drew them both to a halt as the music ended. They both took a moment to survey the people in the room. Christiana had just assured herself that her husband was not back when Langley murmured, “Your husband hasn’t returned, more’s the pity. If he had I would do my best to get him drunk so that he passed out the moment he returned home. Then you would merely have to take a quick look and rush out while he snored off the drink.”

“Dicky rarely does things in a convenient manner,” she said dryly as he led her to an empty seat along the wall. Christiana was grateful to drop into it. She had been dancing nonstop for some time and was ready for a break. But she hadn’t forgotten her responsibilities and peered around now for her sisters. “I wonder where Suzie and Lisa are.”

“I shall take a look about for them,” Langley promised. “Would you like me to bring you back a beverage? You have been dancing quite a bit and must be thirsty.”

“Yes, please. A drink sounds delightful.” The effects of the earlier drink appeared to have dissipated as she’d danced. Besides, he would bring her punch, which probably wouldn’t have much alcohol, if any. At least it hadn’t at the few country events she’d attended.

“I’ll be back directly,” he assured her and moved off.

Christiana immediately began scouring the crowded ballroom for Suzie, Lisa or her husband. Finding all three of them would be a good thing. While moments ago she would have been glad did Dicky not return, she was now rather hoping for it. If he did, and Langley did get him drunk, it would certainly make it easier for her to see if he had the birthmark or not. If that didn’t happen, Christiana hadn’t a clue how she was supposed to get a peek at his behind.

She suspected that was not normally a problem in a marriage and that were she to ask any other married woman in here if their husband had a birthmark or any other distinguishing feature on their bottom, they
would
know the answer.

“Finally, you’ve stopped dancing!”

Christiana gave a start as her sisters suddenly appeared before her. Eyebrows rising, she asked, “Finally?”

“Yes, it was beginning to look as if you might dance until dawn and we are both exhausted and ready to leave.”

“You’re joking,” she said with surprise and reminded Suzette, “You planned to stay to the end in a bid to find a likely husband.”

“I’ve found him,” Suzette announced with satisfaction.

“Already?” Christiana asked with disbelief.

She nodded. “And I’ve proposed.”

“Well who is it?”

“Lord Woodrow. Daniel.”

Christiana blinked at her with confusion. She’d never heard the name. “Who is Daniel Woodrow?”

“The fellow who walked us out for some air so you and Dicky could talk,” Lisa explained and Christiana blanched in horror.

“Dicky’s friend?”

“He is not Dicky’s friend,” Suzette assured her solemnly.

“Are you sure? He seemed to be with him.”

“I’m sure. When we got outside I berated him for being friends with Dicky and he said, ‘I assure you I never have and never will be friends with your sister’s husband. In fact, I think he’s a despicable creature who should be taken out in a field and shot.’ ” Suzette beamed. “He really doesn’t seem to like him at all, Chrissy, which at least shows the man has good taste.”

Christiana shook her head slightly, but then admitted, “I have never heard Dicky mention Woodrow and he hasn’t been to the house. In fact, I have never seen him before tonight so I suppose he could be telling the truth. It’s just that he seemed to be helping Dicky when he took you two outside.”

“He said he was trying to prevent anyone else hearing what he had overheard,” Lisa explained.

“And he’s perfect,” Suzette assured her. “He’s land rich, but poor as a church mouse when it comes to the money to run those lands. And he’s titled,” she added and then frowned and admitted, “I’m not yet sure what his title is. He may just be a Baron, but—” She shrugged indifferently.

“And you say you proposed to him?” Christiana asked.

“Yes,” Suzette said, beaming with pride at taking her own future in hand.

“Well, what did he say?”

“He is taking this evening to think about it,” Suzette answered with a little sigh, and then shifted impatiently and said, “I don’t know about you two but I am exhausted. It has been a terribly stressful day. Why do we not head back to the townhouse and get some rest?”

Christiana bit her lip. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay and consider a couple more men before we leave? If Lord Woodrow says no—”

“Nay,” Suzette interrupted firmly. “We have weeded out all the candidates here tonight and Daniel was the only one I was interested in. The rest are either unattractive, pompous or older than Father. I can always choose one of the others, or maybe find another at tomorrow night’s ball if Daniel says no, but otherwise . . .” She grimaced. “Frankly I have no interest in shackling myself to an old man. I want children and would rather be at least attracted to the man who helps me make them. Besides, Dicky isn’t dead so the urgency has been removed. I have two weeks now to find a husband.”

“Oh, of course,” Christiana murmured and got wearily to her feet.

“You found them.”

Christiana turned to Langley as he approached with two glasses in hand.

“Yes. Well, actually, they found me, and are quite ready to go,” she admitted, and then reached for the nearer glass he held and asked, “Is that for me?”

“Yes,” he murmured sounding distracted as he glanced to Lisa. He then frowned and glanced back to her with surprise and said, “No!”

It was too late, however, Christiana had already taken the glass and quickly gulped down its contents, barely tasting it in her effort to finish it off so they could leave. She was already lowering the glass when she realized the liquid she’d swallowed was burning a trail down her throat and splashing into her stomach like liquid fire. Whiskey again, she realized and drew in one long gasping breath as the air seemed to be sucked out of her. That breath was then followed by a deep, nasty fit of coughing.

“I’m sorry,” Langley said thumping her back with his free hand. “That was whiskey for me. The other glass was for you.”

Gasping for breath as she straightened, Christiana took the glass of punch, quickly drinking that down now in the hopes of clearing her throat. Her eyes widened incredulously as a second wave of heat poured down her throat.

“Oh dear,” Langley muttered.

“Oh dear, what?” Suzette asked grimly, eyeing Christiana with concern.

“That was the Regent’s punch,” Robert said on a sigh, taking the glass from Christiana as she burst into another round of coughing.

“Regent’s punch?” Lisa asked, rubbing Christiana’s back.

“Rum, brandy, arrack and champagne with some tea, pineapple syrup and a couple other ingredients thrown in for flavor,” he explained dryly.

“Well, judging by Christiana’s reaction there was precious little of those other ingredients in it,” Suzette said dryly.

Robert grimaced. “Lady Landon usually has her staff make it stronger as the night goes on. She is sure it is the reason her balls are always so well attended and such a success.”

“Brilliant,” Suzette muttered.

“Are you all right, Chrissy?” Lisa asked with concern when Christiana’s second round of coughing finally began to subside.

She nodded, her breath still too raspy to respond, but she wasn’t at all sure that was true. The two drinks seemed to be hitting her hard. Dear God, her head was spinning and spots were floating before her eyes, though whether that was from the whiskey or her coughing fit she couldn’t tell. She took another moment to regain her composure under the concerned gazes of Suzette, Lisa and Langley, then forced a smile and suggested, “We should be going.”

“Are you sure you are all right?” Langley asked with a frown. “You are still quite flushed.”

Christiana grimaced, but nodded and turned carefully in search of the exit. “We are all tired. A good night’s rest will do us good. Besides, I have something to look into if you’ll recall?”

“What’s that?” Lisa asked even as Langley suggested, “Perhaps you should leave that for another night now, Chrissy. You are not used to liquor and it may go straight to your head.”

Christiana shook her head. “The first glass didn’t affect me that badly, and this hasn’t either except to steal my breath. It will be fine. I shall let you know what I find out.”