Besides, by merely stepping in and taking up your position again, you can avoid a long drawn-out battle to prove you are who you are. It will be as if your stay in America never happened . . . except that it did and you would now have a wife.”

“A wife who hates me,” Richard muttered, his gaze returning to the woman in question. She was laughing at something Langley had said. With her face alight and softened by amusement she almost looked pretty, he decided, and recalled their dance. She hadn’t seemed to hate him by the end of the dance. In fact, he was quite sure if he’d managed to get her out on the balcony she wouldn’t have fought off his kisses.

“She hates George not you,” Daniel corrected quietly. “And who could blame her. The man was a bastard as we both well know. But you are a different kettle of fish. With a little time I suspect she will let go of that anger and come to trust you. The two of you might even make a good match of it.” He was silent for a moment and then added, “Whatever the case, it would make reclaiming your title and position that much easier and would prevent Christiana and her sisters from further hurt by your brother’s actions.”

Richard frowned. The suggestion was not without merit. He had no desire to destroy Christiana, nor did he wish a long drawn-out court battle simply to claim his own name. However, while there was a bit of hope in their response to each other on the dance floor, it was little to gamble his future on. He didn’t know the woman and was reluctant to take such a step blindly.

“What if it turns out she is a shrew?” he asked quietly. “Or a bitter ice maiden? Or a spoiled brat with whom I cannot bear to deal?”

“Hmm.” Daniel peered at the woman in question. “She does not seem to be any of those things, but then few reveal their true faces in public.” He considered the matter for a moment and then suggested. “Well, we could keep George’s body for a couple of days while you find out her true nature and if you find you cannot stomach the idea of being married to her, we can just drop George back in your bed to be found dead, and go the legal route after all .”

“George’s body.” Richard’s eyes widened as he recalled that little problem. Oddly enough, he hadn’t considered it when Daniel had first made the suggestion.

“Yes,” Daniel said dryly. “If you decide to take a day or two to find out, we shall have to be sure to leave before the ladies, make our way to your townhouse, and snatch his body from the bed before they see it is still there.”

“We should get it done now,” Richard announced and began making his way around the ball room toward the doors.