“She told you that?” Richard asked with amazement.

“I was assuring her that we could get the marriage annulled and she had to explain that that wasn’t the case anymore,” he said dryly, and then shrugged.

“Since last night at the ball was when we realized it could be annulled, I’m guessing last night after the ball was when that situation changed.”

“Erm . . . yes, well—” Richard paused and raised his eyebrows as he noted Christiana’s maid, Grace, striding up the hall leading two maids. All three women carried a collection of bedding, blankets and pillows. As she drew abreast of them, he frowned and asked, “What’s all this?”

“I asked Milly and Sally to help me make up a room for you,” Grace said calmly as she opened the door to the guest room across from the master bedroom.

“A room for me?” he asked with surprise as she ushered the younger girls inside.

“Yes. You cannot sleep in the master bedroom until the bed is repaired,” she said sensibly.

“No, but there is no need to go to this trouble, I will just sleep—”

“In the spare room until a certain situation is made legal,” Grace said firmly. She gave him a hard smile and added, “Lady Christiana asked me to see to it, and so I am.”

Richard gaped after the woman as she slipped into the bedroom and closed the door.

“Hmm. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised,” Daniel said, not hiding his amusement. Langley was no better, chuckling openly without even bothering to try to cover it behind a cough.

Richard scowled at them both. “I think we should head for Gretna Green this afternoon. There is really no need to wait.”

“Er . . .” Daniel glanced to Langley and then urged Richard a few feet away to say quietly, “What about the business with George’s murder? Do you not think we should try to sort out who killed him before we do anything else?”

“Langley knows everything, Daniel,” Richard said quietly. “You can speak in front of him.”

“He does?”

“I do,” Langley assured him closing the distance between them.

“Oh, well,” he frowned and then repeated, “As I was saying, do you not think we should resolve that matter before we—”

“No,” Richard interrupted firmly. “You are the one who pointed out that the killer would now think he’d failed and may try again. I think the most important thing is to ensure Christiana is legal y wed to me in case a second attempt is successful.”

“You may be right,” Daniel murmured.

Richard relaxed a little, glad he didn’t have an argument on his hands, and then added, “Langley suggested stopping off at the family vault on the way and dropping off George there. I think that may be a good idea.”

“I suppose it’s better than leaving him here unguarded for days,” Daniel said dryly.

Richard nodded.

“Well then, all we have to do is convince the girls to go,” Langley said dryly.