“Should I not get acquainted with my sister-in-law?” Richard laughed to himself and folded his hands over the bedsheets. “Having failed so spectacularly in keeping my relationship with you in any way useful, I wondered what sort of a chance I might have with your wife. The first letter was very innocent, very careful, given I could not be sure what you had told her.” His laughter resumed, growing stronger and revealing that Richard’s weakness was not what he portrayed it to be. “I could not have dreamed that you had told her absolutely nothing. Imagine my surprise when she wrote back to me. I was not sure if she was the most naive of women, or if she really was entirely ignorant of me. You’ve done her no favors, Harry.”

Harrison shook his head, grinding his teeth almost painfully together. “I am well aware of my own failings with my wife. What I want to know is why you have interjected yourself into her life when you know damn well I would have forbidden it.”

Richard only smiled. “Because I know damn well you would have forbidden it. And because I can. You’ll never be rid of me now, Harry. Your wife thinks I’m redeemable. I’ll do my best not to disillusion her too quickly.”

“Leave her alone,” Harrison ordered in a growl, coming closer to the bed. “I will set up a residence for you, keep you in mild comfort for a year or more if you mind your gambling, and remove some of the restrictions on funds if you will leave Adelaide alone.”

The offer clearly intrigued his brother, his dark eyes twinkling. “You bring me proof of these claims, Harry, and we can talk about my behavior with Adelaide going forward.”

“Your word, Richard,” Harrison demanded. “Your word that you will not pursue mischief with my wife if I concede this.”

“I give you my word,” his brother replied with a roll of his eyes, “that if I like what you offer, I’ll leave your precious wife to her miserable life with you.”

Had Adelaide said it was miserable? Was Richard only giving his usual opinions about Harrison’s life and manner, or did he know something Harrison did not?

There was no way to know for certain, as the letters Adelaide had written to Richard would never be available for him to read. All he could do was make as certain as possible that no more harm could be done.

He nodded once at his brother, and left the room, his mind spinning on possibilities to end this once and for all.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Laughter was something Adelaide had longed for in recent days, yet it had not been possible, nor available to her.

Until Richard had started to recover.

Now laughter was a daily occurrence.