Her expression was challenging. Richard suspected she thought she knew exactly what he—or really George—had been celebrating. However, he didn’t have a clue what that might have been. Instead, his mind had put together the smell of bitter almonds on George’s breath with the knowledge that the amber liquid had been the last thing he’d consumed. Richard was suddenly quite positive that the whiskey Suzette was now holding aloft was how his brother had been poisoned.

“Come tell us what it was so we can all celebrate,” Suzette suggested grimly. “We can use some good news about now.”

“I wasn’t celebrating anything,” Richard said finally, starting across the room toward her. “I wasn’t feeling well and my uncle used to always swear by a shot of whiskey every morning doing wonders for your health so I thought I would give it a try.”

“Liar,” she said sweetly, and then shrugged as if it were of no consequence and lifted the glass toward her lips. “Ah well, now we can celebrate you turning over a new leaf and making my sister happy for a change.”

“No!” Richard sped the last few feet that separated them, desperate to keep her from drinking what might be poison. He managed to knock the glass from her hand, sending it to the floor, but the contents spilled down her dress front as it went.

Chapter Six

Oh Suzette, your lovely dress!” Lisa cried rushing forward now.

“I apologize,” Richard murmured, bending to pick up the glass. “I didn’t mean to spill it all over you.”

“No, you just meant to keep me from drinking your precious whiskey,” Suzette snapped with disgust. “Christiana said you don’t allow anyone else to drink it, but surely it was better in me than on the floor, don’t you think?”

“I assure you, you are welcome to anything in my home,” he said, straightening with dignity, and then added in a lie, “I just did not wish you to drink the whiskey out of anger. I’m quite sure you would never have consumed it under normal circumstances, and it’s very strong. It would have gone right to your head.”

Obviously not appeased by his explanation, she said dryly, “Yes, well now it’s gone to my bosoms instead.”

“Suzette!” Lisa gasped with shock.

“Well, it has,” Suzette said unrepentantly, gesturing to her soaking bodice. She then clucked with annoyance and whirled toward the door. “Forgive me, but I no longer feel like talking tonight. I am going to bed.”

“Perhaps it’s best if we have this conversation tomorrow,” Lisa said apologetically, following her sister to the door. Pausing there, she glanced back to offer him a crooked smile and added, “But I am very glad you have realized what guilt and loss were making you do and I shall do my best to help you repair the damage done to your relationship with Christiana. I promise.”

“Thank you,” Richard murmured, thinking that while Suzette was a virago, Lisa was really . . . well, she was incredibly young and sweet. If he stayed married to Christiana, and really took them on as sisters he would have to help protect the girl from her own romantic tendencies. Dear Lord, he still couldn’t believe the tragic tale she’d come up with to explain George’s nastiness, and all on the basis of one sentence. Shaking his head as the women left, Richard turned his attention to the glass in his hand and raised it to his nose to sniff it. He frowned when all he smelled was whiskey without any hint of bitter almonds, then picked up the decanter and gave it a sniff too. No bitter almond scent. Unfortunately, he didn’t know much about the poison and supposed the smell might not present itself until consumed. That or the whiskey wasn’t the source of the poison.