Suzette recognized an effort to change the topic when she saw one, but let Christiana get away with it. She always had been the most squeamish of the three of them. Eyeing her sister, she said quietly, “He seems to treat you much more kindly than Dicky did. And he upheld the marriage to prevent us all from being cast into scandal.” When Christiana nodded, Suzette admitted, “I thought at first that he avoided scandal as well, but Lisa is right, men do not suffer scandal like we women do and he probably did uphold it for your sake, which is really very chivalrous. Much more chivalrous than Daniel’s marrying me for money.”

When Christiana frowned, Suzette realized how bitter her words sounded and glanced away with a frown of her own. She was a little bitter about it, which was just silly when that was exactly what she’d been looking for, a man in straits dire enough that he would be willing to marry her for her dower and agree to leave her control of part of it, as well as allow her to lead her own life if she chose. Why did Daniel’s agreeing to do just that suddenly bother her?

“Are you having second thoughts about marrying Daniel?” Christiana asked quietly.

Suzette swallowed and considered the question. Second thoughts? No. She wanted to marry him. She had come to like him and enjoy his company and . . . she just wished he really wanted to marry her in return.

“Perhaps Richard would be willing to cover Father’s gambling debts. If we even need to cover them. If we prove he was drugged and didn’t gamble at all—”

“Nay, ’tis fine. I doubt it would be that easy to prove and we have enough on our plate at the moment,” Suzette said, the words tumbling quickly from her lips. Forcing a smile, she steered them firmly away from the uncomfortable subject and said, “Speaking of which, we should really get back to our task. Who have we not yet talked to?”

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Do you know that fellow?”

Daniel leaned toward the carriage window to peer out at the man Richard was indicating. An older gentleman was pacing back and forth on the path in front of Richard’s townhouse. He was well dressed, with gray hair, and had a hat and cane, but his noble appearance was belied by the fact that he appeared to be talking to himself as he paced.

“He looks vaguely familiar,” Daniel said slowly, noting the man’s facial features, but unable to place the fellow. “He seems a little troubled about something.”

“Grand.” Richard opened the carriage door to get out. “More trouble at my door.”

“You do seem to attract it of late,” Daniel commented on a dry laugh as he followed him.