Christiana grimaced as she realized she was separating his good behavior from his bad behavior rather than considering it all as a whole, but that was how she was starting to think when it came to her husband. There was the Dicky she’d lived with this last year who she could believe would have done such a thing, and would be happy to find some way to escape. And then there was the sweet, considerate and passionate lover, Richard, from last night.

The problem was she had no idea which man he was, and who she would be confronted with the next time they met. Would he be the Dicky who was so mean and cold to her, or the lover Richard? And if it was Dicky by day and Richard by night, was it worth spending her days in a sort of hell to enjoy nights of heaven?

She supposed that didn’t really matter. The marriage was consummated, so unless it turned out Richard was really George, the marriage would stand firm. She would never allow Robert to sacrifice himself by pretending to be her lover to gain her a freedom she’d lost through her own wanton desires.

Though she had to admit the very fact that he would even suggest it was touching. She didn’t doubt that he’d carry it out if she agreed. She also knew without a doubt that he’d make the same offer to both Suzette and Lisa were they in similar situations. Truly, he was the best of friends, a brother in every way but blood . . . and she couldn’t allow him to ruin himself for her.

“Chrissy?” Langley prompted again.

Christiana sighed and finally just said, “Why do we not just wait a bit? I am sure I can get to see his bottom tonight. I will make sure I do, and then we shall decide what is best from there.”

“Christiana,” he began sternly, but it was as far as he got, for the door opened just then and Lisa and Suzette entered.

“There you are,” Lisa trilled brightly as she led Suzie to join them. “Haversham said Robert was here. Why was the door closed?”

Christiana blinked in surprise at the scowl Lisa cast on both her and Langley for such an impropriety. Lisa rarely scowled at anything or anyone. “I’m afraid I closed it without thinking when I entered. Come sit down, I was just about to ask Langley if there are any ball s we should attend tonight.”

As the two girls took their seats, Christiana turned a warning glance to Langley. She didn’t want the conversation to continue in front of her sisters. She really didn’t want to discuss it anymore at all , at least, not unless Richard didn’t have the strawberry birthmark. Then, she supposed there would be a lot of discussion going on.

Fortunately, Robert obeyed her silent plea and began to discuss ball s.

“I hear voices.”

Richard paused in the entry at Daniel ’s hissed words. After listening for a moment, he relaxed. “It is coming from the parlor. It sounds like the women are all in there, which means we won’t run into them upstairs.”