She blinked in surprise, both at the apology and his comment. Christiana wasn’t used to such consideration. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had much choice in the matter. They had already consummated the marriage, legal or not.

Apparently taking her hesitation for reluctance, Richard knelt before her and took her hands in his. “I have heard enough to realize the last year with George has been hard. But I promise you I am not like him. I will be a good husband to you. I will—”

Christiana brought his words to an end by covering his mouth with her hand. When he frowned around her fingers and raised his eyebrows, she sighed and said, “Dicky made—I mean George. George made me many promises before we married about the wonderful husband he would be and the glorious life we would have together . . . and he broke every one. I would rather you not make promises, my lord. Lies are easily spoken. Actions are really more telling.”

“Very well. No promises,” Richard agreed when she let her hand drop away from his mouth. “But you haven’t answered my question. Do you wish to let the marriage stand and hold the ceremony again?”

Christiana smiled wryly at the question. His first questions, Are you willing? And Will you marry me? would have been easier to answer. She had little choice really if she wished to avoid scandal. But his Do you wish to let the marriage stand and hold the ceremony again? was much more complicated.

Christiana was so confused at that point she didn’t know what she wished for. Certainly Richard seemed much nicer than George, but despite what they had done in this room last night he was virtually a stranger to her, and George had seemed nice prior to the wedding as well. How was she to know if Richard might not turn into a controlling and critical monster the moment the vows were repeated as well? She couldn’t, and was afraid to trust that he wouldn’t and be hurt again as she had by George, for truly that had been the worst thing about the way he’d treated her, her sense of betrayal and hurt that the man who had claimed to love her had then treated her so cruelly.

At least she would have the nights to look forward to this time, some part of her mind pointed out and Christiana glanced away from Richard with a blush at the thought. It was no small consolation. Her memories of the pleasure they’d shared were vivid and glorious. Christiana supposed she would just have to hope that was not the only good part of their marriage, that he was kinder and showed her more respect and consideration than George had.

Even a modicum of either behavior would make it bearable if she had those passionate nights too.

Clearing her throat, she forced herself to meet his gaze again and nodded solemnly. “Very well. The marriage will stand so long as we have another ceremony.” She swallowed and then added quietly, “Thank you.”