“Oh Father,” Lisa said with a sigh. “That wasn’t necessary at all. Daniel agreed to let Suzette keep half her dower to pay off the debt and use the rest as she wished. He is not the devil Dicky was.”

“And actually, Richard here is not the villain you think he is either,” Langley added as he urged Lisa away to take her place at Madison’s side. He then bent his head close and began to murmur. Daniel heard enough to know he was explaining the situation to the man and simply waited for him to finish. It took a bit of time, but eventually Madison lowered his gun and squawked, “What?”

Robert nodded solemnly. “Chrissy is very happy with the Earl of Radnor. This one,” he added firmly. “And Daniel is a good and honorable man. He’ll make Suzette a fine husband.”

Daniel snorted at the words, his tone full of disgust as he said, “Only if he doesn’t tell her he sold the damned townhouse to make good on his debts. If she finds that out Suzette is just contrary enough that she may very well not marry me.”

“I’m sure Lord Madison will keep that information to himself for now,” Richard said, bringing a look of surprise to the older man’s face.

“Why would I do that?” Madison asked with amazement. “If Suzette doesn’t wish to marry him, I will not let her be forced into it.”

Richard gave him a pained smile. “Under normal circumstances I would agree with you. However, after what I interrupted in the parlor between the two of them this morning, honor demands he marry her, and as her brother-in-law I feel it my duty to ensure he does.”

“Eh?” Madison’s eyes shot to Daniel just as he began to grin at the recollection of what Richard had walked in on that morning before they’d left. Suzette had just crawled onto his lap and he’d lifted her skirts to keep them from hampering her as she straddled his thighs, but he’d deliberately lifted it high enough to bare her bottom and had been pinching the tender flesh and considering doing much more when Richard had entered. Most scandalous. The girl was as good as ruined if it got out, and he’d damn well blab that tidbit all over town if necessary to get her to marry him. Suzette was not going to escape him now when he’d finally settled on marrying her.

Realizing that everyone was staring at him, he nodded easily. “I’d forgotten about that. Yes, she has to marry me to avoid ruin.”

“You’re sure he’s a good and honorable man?” Lord Madison asked Robert doubtfully.

“Positive,” Robert assured him, obviously fighting a grin. “Truly, just look how eager he is to do the right thing.”