“Then how do you know about it?” Richard asked dryly.

“Because Suzette just explained it to me,” he admitted with wry amusement.

Richard narrowed his eyes. “Why on earth would she do that when the two of you just met?”

“I’ll explain that later,” Daniel muttered, glancing away. “Right now, the important thing is that Suzette thinks Dicky somehow found out about the dower and married Christiana to get it.”

“I could see that being the case,” Richard said dryly.

“Really?” Daniel asked with a frown. “I did wonder, but he gained so much wealth when he got rid of you and took your place that he shouldn’t have needed to marry for more.”

“All the money in the world would not be enough for George,” Richard said grimly. “He always wanted more of everything. It was like he was trying to fill the hole where his soul should have been with things.” He scowled at the thought of his brother and then glanced back to Daniel and said, “I can see him having taken Christiana’s father to this shady gaming hell the first time to force him to the edge of ruin and gain her fortune, but why would he take him there again now? He had already married one sister. He couldn’t claim the dower of either of the others, and all he accomplished was possibly bringing scandal down on everyone. Christiana would not have avoided the scandal, which meant it would taint him as well. What profit is there in that?”

Daniel frowned and shook his head. “I have been wondering that myself, but have not yet come up with anything. He must have had some plan in mind, but I cannot see what it might have been.”

Richard scowled with displeasure at the mystery and glanced back to the woman in Langley’s arms. “So to reclaim my name and birthright I shall have to ruin a woman who has already been sorely mistreated by my brother.”

“And probably battle in court for months or even years to prove you are Richard Fairgrave, or a Fairgrave at all,” Daniel said quietly. “And then even if the courts eventually decide in your favor, there will still be those in the ton who think you an imposter.”

“Damn George,” Richard breathed wearily. “As usual, he has made one hell of a mess.”

“There is an alternative,” Daniel said tentatively.

Richard glanced at him narrowly. “Do not even suggest I forsake everything and slink back to America. While I have no desire to ruin Lady Christiana and her family, I also have no desire to give up my rightful title and place. It is all I have.”

“I wasn’t going to suggest that,” Daniel assured him.

“Then what is the alternative?”

“You could simply take up your place again as if you’d never been away,” he said quietly.

“What?” Richard asked with amazement.

“Well, you cannot gain justice from George, he is apparently dead,” Daniel pointed out. “So, revealing what he did will only succeed in hurting innocents.