“Er . . . yes. I’m afraid I was a bit distracted with matters at Woodrow,” Daniel explained apologetically under the stern man’s displeased eye.

“Yes,” the butler said dryly. “So I was forced to simply stand by and wait, a witness to Master George’s abuses of his position and shabby treatment of Lady Christiana, but unable to do anything about it.”

“What made you stop waiting?” Christiana asked curiously, wondering that she’d had at least one all y all that time and hadn’t even realized it.

“It was the morning your sisters arrived at the townhouse, my lady,” he said solemnly. “Master George had been tense and expectant, almost buzzing with a certain excitement for the two weeks prior and I anticipated that he was up to something, but was unsure what until your sisters arrived with the news your father had apparently gambled again. I realized then that this must have been what Master George had been waiting for, and quite impatiently, I will add. From the conversation I chanced to overhear afterward, I gather he had expected them to come to you much sooner, or for your father to come pleading his case.

“However,” Haversham continued, “After leaving you ladies in the parlor, Master George was quite cheerful and ordered me to bring his best whiskey to him in his office. Freddy appeared then, headed for the kitchens and Master George took him to the office, where I overheard his gleeful announcement that the plan was finally moving forward again. He was sure the sisters were there about the gambling, and that it would be no time before he had Suzette married off to one of his friends.”

“Who?” Daniel asked sharply, making Christiana glance curiously his way. His expression suggested the answer was important to him, though she couldn’t imagine why he cared. He and Suzette were marrying. Whoever the friend was, he was out of luck.

“I’m afraid he did not speak the proper name of his friend, but referred to him as Twiddly.”

“Twiddly?” her father echoed with disbelief.

Haversham nodded, and then continued, “Apparently Master George was to get a good portion of the money supposedly owed to the gaming hell from this gentleman, Twiddly, for acting as broker. Then they merely had to wait for Lord Madison to come to town again, drug and drag him to the gaming hell for a third time and force Lady Lisa into marriage as well. Master George would gain a portion of her dower in that instance as well. The gaming hell only took a percentage to keep its mouth shut about the fact that no money was actually owing at all .”

“I will see the place shut down,” Robert growled furiously.

“No doubt you would be doing many unwary men a favor,” Haversham assured him and then continued. “Once all three women were wed and fleeced of their dowers, the plan was to dispose of them all in one tragic carriage accident.”

Haversham allowed a moment’s silence and then added, “Once the women were dead, Master George already had his sights set on a certain young heiress who was too young to enter society yet, but should be on the verge of her debut by the time he was widowed. Master George was quite pleased with himself and his clever machinations,” he added dryly.