Almost a Countess by Jenna Jaxon
Chapter 11
“What’s gotten into you this morning, Miss Harper?”
Dora turned this way and that before her mirror as Larkin tried to put the finishing touches on her coiffure.
“If you keep fidgeting like this, you’ll never be ready to go downstairs.” The harried maid had hairpins in her mouth and the curling iron in her hands. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Forgive me, Larkin.” Dora turned toward the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of a column of soldiers in the driveway. As she twisted, she pulled her hair out of the tongs yet again.
“Miss Harper!” The maid spat the pins out, and they pattered onto the carpet. “You must hold still, or your hair will be a fright on this side.” She knelt to retrieve the pins.
“I can’t help it, Larkin. So much depends on this morning.” If the soldiers decided to come this morning. They might not arrive until afternoon, and then she’d be fit only for a room in Bedlam. Taking advantage of Larkin’s inattention, Dora rose and strode to the window.
The rain had washed the whole of the outdoors, the remaining droplets making everything sparkle in the morning sun. If only the soldiers would put in an appearance, they could get on with the rest of the day’s work, which would include Finn writing that letter to his uncle.
Finn. She liked the sound of that. It suited him so much better than the rather staid Phineas. She also liked that she’d been invited to call him by the name his friends used. It made her feel more of a companion to him, rather than simply an acquaintance.
Still no soldiers.
“Miss Harper.” Larkin had reheated the tongs and held them up. Best to yield to the inevitable. She wanted to look well for the little subterfuge she had planned.
Dora went back to her chair and patiently counted to two hundred as Larkin plied the tongs to make her hair curl in pleasing ringlets beside her cheeks. “Is it done yet?”
“Just a moment.” Carefully, Larkin began to unwind the tongs.
At a rap on the door, Dora tried to bound up, but the maid pushed her back down.
“Miss Harper, if you move, these tongs could burn the hair right off your head.” The maid’s voice was sharp as she continued to unwind the curl. “Now stay still. I’m all but done.”
Resigned, Dora sat as still as she possibly could, though she twitched with impatience to leave. “Come in.”
The door opened and there stood Finn, looking splendid once more in her brother’s clothing, his eyes shining, grinning for all he was worth. “Good morning, Miss Harper. How are ye this fine day?”
Heart suddenly aflutter, Dora jumped to her feet just as Larkin removed the tongs from the final curl. “Finn.” She glanced at the maid. Perhaps a more formal address was called for whilst they were in her bedchamber. “Er, Lord Aberfoyle. What are you doing here? Is there something wrong?” She gasped. “Have the soldiers arrived?”
“Nae, dinna fash yerself. I dinna think they would be here sae early.” He shifted uncomfortably, one hand hidden behind his back. “’Tis something else entirely. And, well, it came tae my attention after I retired last evening, that I had no’ properly apologized for my behavior yesterday.”
“Your behavior?” Dora frowned.
“Disobeying yer order no’ tae ride wi’out yer presence. I am truly sorry tae have done it, especially as it worried ye sae.”
Somehow, in all their planning for the soldiers’ inevitable visit last night, she’d quite forgotten that piece of impertinence. She straightened, her smile dimming. “Well, I thank you for making a formal apology for conduct that could have cost you your life, my lord. Consider your apology accepted.”
“Will ye also accept this small token o’ my appreciation for all ye’ve done for me?” He withdrew his hand from behind his back, revealing a sizeable bouquet of wildflowers, still wet with morning dew. “I dinna think it proper tae pick the flowers in yer formal garden, sae I went out early this morning tae gather some o’ the ones I had seen at the end o’ yer driveway yesterday.”
Any sternness she might have harbored vanished as Dora’s heart melted. “What a thoughtful gesture, Lord Aberfoyle.” She reached out to take the bouquet from his hand but during that simple action, as they tried not to drop the flowers, their fingers became intertwined. A wave of heat overtook Dora as his warm hand clutched at hers. She gasped then laughed as they struggled to contain the stems. “There, I’ve got them. No, catch that one.”
Finn stooped to grasp the single flower that had escaped them then straightened and offered the bloom to her. “No’ bad for a man with all thumbs this morning. I dropped them more than once when I was picking them.”
Dora took it and buried her face in the sweet blooms to hide her pink cheeks. With everything they must think about this morning, he was terribly sweet to go to the time and trouble to walk all the way down the driveway… “Wait.” She pulled her face from the bouquet, her frown returning. “You were out on the roadside this morning? When we were all but assured that the soldiers are coming here today? Are you mad? What if they had come upon you? You’d have been arrested and whisked off with them and we’d have been none the wiser.”
“Miss Harper, ye worry for nothing.” He smirked at her. “The wee gomerels would never be awake that time o’ day, much less out and about. I was in nae more danger then than I am now.”
That remained to be seen. “Please put these in water, Larkin.” Unceremoniously, Dora handed the bouquet to her maid. “And see that Lord Aberfoyle finds his way back to his chamber and is ready to play his part. He seems to have a habit of straying when it is most inconvenient.”
“Yes, miss.” Larkin took the flowers in both hands then eyed Finn. “This way, my lord, although I think you know the way.”
“Aye, I dae.” Shooting a final grin at Dora, Finn went out the door, Larkin right behind him.
Stamping her foot in frustration—which did no good at all for her soft slippers made no satisfying thump on the thick carpet—Dora marched to the door and pushed it closed with a sharp bang. Soothed somewhat, she returned to her dressing table and sat, bewildered by the conflicting feelings Lord Aberfoyle seemed to always bring out in her.
His gesture with the flowers was incredibly sweet and in other circumstances would have touched her deeply. Had done so, in fact, until it became evident how foolhardy Finn had been in doing it. As he himself had said, he’d been arrested for being a fool, so such behavior was apparently not unusual for the man. A dangerous flaw in his character in his present situation, and one she would not tolerate for long. Finn’s appeal had slipped several notches.
A knock on the door startled her out of her gloomy reverie. “Come.”
The door opened on Hanson. “Miss Harper, a Lieutenant Scarlet and five soldiers are here. I have put them in the front receiving room.”
Dora catapulted to her feet. “Find Larkin. Tell her to put on her white apron and go to the viscount’s apartment immediately. Then tell them I will be down directly.”
The butler hurried away, and Dora took one final look in the mirror. She’d do for the role she needed to play now. She grabbed up her cream shawl, embroidered with multicolored flowers that complemented her deep turquoise print gown, and headed for Finn’s room.
At her knock, a muffled voice called, “Come in.”
The drapes had not been drawn, giving the room a dim, dungeon-like quality, with no direct light. In the massive bed rested a white-clad figure, an old-fashioned nightcap pulled down over his gray hair. Eyes closed, the figure lay back on the pillows.
“Dora, Dora? You’ve forgotten m’ breakfast, daughter.” His voice was high and squeaky, for all the world like an elderly gentleman. Not a hint of his Scottish accent. “Dora?” Finn opened one eye. “Was that convincing enough?” he said in his own voice.
“Lord.” He would be the death of her. “They are downstairs in the receiving room.” He didn’t seem frightened at all by what they were about to attempt. He’d better be serious about it, though. She had no idea her plan would work. “You have to behave like Mr. Harper, an elderly gentleman who is ill. We talked about this last night.”
“We did, but I thought I should try tae make the old man as true tae form as possible. I’m impersonating my uncle, ye ken. His voice is high as any woman’s.”
“Please, Finn. Larkin should be here any minute. Just remember to cough and moan loudly, but not too often. I hope they don’t come in, but if they do…” She took in the old nightshirt that belonged to her father, the nightcap over one of Father’s wigs, and for a last touch, she pushed the chamber pot out from under the bed a trifle more. It hadn’t been emptied from the night before, per her instructions. “If they do, I think they will believe you are my father.”
“Then ye go play yer part and I shall take care o’ mine.” He gazed at her, confidence in his eyes.
Straightening her shoulders, Dora nodded and strode from the room. She couldn’t bear to think of what would happen should their little scheme go awry.
Entering the receiving room, she smiled engagingly at the lieutenant, a taller man than she’d expected, with dark blond hair and cold gray eyes that assessed her as quickly as she had him. “Lieutenant Scarlet?” She curtsied as prettily as she knew how. “My butler said you wished to see me? About the escaped prisoner, I suspect.”
“At your service, Miss Harper.” Scarlet bowed, his lips in a tight line. “You have heard of our quest in the neighborhood then?”
“Yes, lieutenant. From several sources, including Lord Trevor. His wife and I are old friends, so when I visited her yesterday, he chanced to tell me of your call on them.” It was always best to carry the fight into the enemy’s court. “So you have not found the fugitive yet?”
“No, Miss Harper.” The lieutenant nodded toward his men. “We’ve been searching for him around here for the last four days and seen nothing of him. I begin to believe he’s received help from someone in the neighborhood.” The officer peered directly into her face in a blatant attempt to intimidate her. “Otherwise, how could he have avoided us so long?”
“How indeed, lieutenant.” Dora cocked her head, trying not to think of the lieutenant’s cruelty to Finn. “Do you think perhaps he’s moved on to another place? I’d think an escaped prisoner would want to run as fast and as far as possible to elude capture.”
“He may have done, Miss Harper, but I deemed it necessary to scour the neighborhood thoroughly to assure myself he has gone.” Scarlet nodded at her, a slight smile on his lips. “We know he’s now afoot instead of on horseback. The horse he stole during his escape turned up just north of here. Somehow, the prisoner lost him, which slowed him down. That is why I wanted to do a thorough search of every property hereabouts.” He eyed Dora, and she braced herself for the request that would come. “Including this one, Miss Harper.”
“Of course, Lieutenant Scarlet. You may search the barn and outhouses. The only people on the property are the servants, myself, and my father.” That had come out naturally, thank goodness.
“Your father, you say?” Scarlet paused, staring at her with narrowed eyes. “I was given to understand from some of the locals that your father was from home. If he is here, why has he not come down to meet with me instead of sending his daughter?”
“Because he is ill and in bed, lieutenant. My servants have been nursing him for nigh on a week.” Dora met the man’s gaze and stared him down. “I pray that when your men search the house, they will do it quietly. My father needs his rest.”
“Very good, Miss Harper.” He turned to the troops, who had been shifting from one leg to the other ever since she mentioned an illness. “Gates, Lawson, take the outbuildings. Johnson, search outside around the house and gardens.” He nodded to two younger soldiers. “Parker and Henderson, you’ll search the house. Parker, the ground floor, Henderson, the first. I’ll take the second floor.”
“I will accompany you, lieutenant. I was going there before you were announced, as that is where my father’s room is.” She started to the door and turned into the corridor.
There was a muted conversation among the troops then they emerged one by one from the receiving room and headed off to their assigned tasks. Lieutenant Scarlet was the last. He glanced at her. “If you will be so kind as to lead the way, Miss Harper?”
“Of course.” Gathering her skirts, Dora strode briskly toward the main staircase, followed by Scarlet and Henderson. They climbed the stairs in silence until they reached the first floor.
“Right, Henderson, check each room thoroughly. Look in every crack and crevice large enough for a man to squeeze into.”
“Yes, sir.” The man saluted Scarlet.
“Should he require assistance, Lieutenant Scarlet, he may call one of the servants.” She’d already alerted Sally to listen if he called out, and where to take him.
“You hear that, Henderson?”
The soldier nodded then turned down the right corridor and opened the first door on the left.
Dora had nothing to fear on the first floor. It was mainly guest bedrooms unused since the last time the entire family had met together five years before.
She and the lieutenant continued up the stairs, the silence between them becoming more and more pronounced. “Are we the final house you’ve searched in the area?”
“Yes, save for one more tenant house at the farthest edge of the estate to the south. We will stop there as we head to Thirsk.”
“That will be Mr. Massingill’s farm. He should be no trouble at all. I hope all my father’s tenants have given you nothing but cooperation.” They reached the landing for the second floor, and Dora prayed for strength.
“They have, Miss Harper. We have been given easy access to every house, barn, stable, garden, and outbuilding in the area. We have met with little resistance.” He turned to her, his face set in pleasant lines. “An unusually cooperative community, in fact.”
“I have never known any of my father’s tenants to be disrespectful of authority, lieutenant. I would think you’d be glad of that.” Dora paused before heading down the left corridor, the one that held her own room and Larkin’s.
“It has been refreshing, I grant you, but hardly our usual reception.” The lieutenant’s gaze bored into her. “And the unusual always bodes ill for someone.”
“Perhaps the people hereabouts are happy to have you trying to catch this prisoner. They will feel safer when you do.” She opened the first door, an unused bedroom next door to her own. “Here’s the first of a series of sleeping chambers on this floor. They are mostly disused in recent years. Our family has dwindled.”
“Thank you, Miss Harper.” Scarlet drew his pistol and entered.
Dora stood out in the corridor, her heart pounding even though there was nothing in the room for Scarlet to find. Still, the sight of the pistol had frightened her.
The lieutenant was quick. He opened the wardrobe, looked under the bed, and behind the painted screen that served as a dressing room for the chamber. He returned to the corridor shortly and nodded. “Can I see the next one, please?”
Room succeeded room as they continued to the end and started back. “This is my chamber, lieutenant.” Her pulse quickening,, she opened the door and entered before him. “There are few places to conceal a man here, I’m afraid.”
“I can see that, Miss Harper.” He went immediately to the door leading to the dressing room, but it had nothing save her gowns hanging there. As quickly, he exited the room and proceeded to check the wardrobe, under the bed, behind the massive chest-on-chest. At last, he seemed satisfied. “No one here.”
“Very well, lieutenant. The next room belongs to my lady’s maid, Larkin.” Dora opened the door. Her mother had always insisted her lady’s maids sleep near her, but not too near. Hence a small chamber beside her own, but with no connecting door. Dora had always wondered why her mother’s apartment was on the opposite corridor from the viscount’s apartments, but of course had never blatantly asked. Her older sisters had laughed and said their bedrooms certainly connected to their husbands’ apartments, which made Dora even more curious. She assumed that veil would be lifted once she married. If she ever married.
Lieutenant Scarlet had finished with Larkin’s small room while Dora had been wondering about her parents’ sleeping arrangements, so they headed toward the other set of rooms, including the viscount’s apartments. Now was the time to test her courage. “My father’s chamber is just there, on the left. He hasn’t left it since he arrived. Let me see if he is sleeping.” She knocked quietly and called, “Papa? Larkin? May I come in? I have a visitor.”
There was a moment of silence then a fit of coughing erupted, loud and long.
Scarlet sent a suspicious look at her. “How long has your father been sick?”
“Not a week yet. The surgeon has been out twice, but he is not as optimistic as I would like.” Dora knocked again. “Papa, are you all right? We are coming in for just a few minutes.” She opened the door and entered. Larkin sat at the side of the bed, a wet handkerchief pressed to the forehead of the figure in the bed. He was groaning and moaning. The room smelled of urine and worse. “Papa, this is Lieutenant Scarlet. He is looking for a man who ran away.”
Another fit of coughing commenced. Larkin pressed a handkerchief to his mouth and when she took it away, the rag was bloody.
“Oh, dear.” Dora turned to Scarlet, trying to look gravely concerned for him. “I forgot to ask, lieutenant, if you’ve had the smallpox variolation?”
“Smallpox?” Scarlet jumped out of the room as though he’d been fired from a cannon. “Why the bloody hell didn’t you say your father had smallpox?”
“Mr. Cardrew isn’t positive, you see.” She glanced at the figure in the bed, still moaning. “He says there should be a rash of little red dots all over him by this time if it’s really the smallpox. But he hasn’t gotten them yet, so—”
“He does now, Miss Harper.” Larkin spoke up, right on cue. “I noticed when I was bathing him. Look.” Larkin pulled up the nightshirt sleeve to reveal an arm peppered with little red dots.
“Oh, Papa,” Dora whispered, her hand going to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I’ll have the surgeon fetched at once. Stay with him please, Larkin.” She rushed out of the room and shut the door. “Lieutenant Scarlet, please forgive me for not thinking to ask you sooner. You were not in the room very long, so I doubt you are in any danger. Here are the other rooms.” She strode to first one then the other empty chambers and threw the doors open. “Please look quickly so I may send for Mr. Cardrew.”
Face like last night’s thunderclouds, Scarlet made cursory searches of the two rooms then joined her in the corridor. By that time, Dora had fished out her handkerchief and was applying it to her eyes. “Are you done now, lieutenant? Then let us hurry.” With a sob, Dora rushed down the corridor to the staircase. Not surprisingly, Scarlet kept pace with her.
When they arrived at the ground floor, Dora poked her head into the servant’s hall and called for Hanson, who appeared instantly. “Hanson, my father has taken a turn for the worse. Please send Alfred to fetch the surgeon. Tell him to hurry.”
“Very good, Miss Harper.” The butler nodded and disappeared back into the hall.
“I am so sorry, again, lieutenant, if I’ve caused you any worry.” She looked about. “I truly do not think you are in any danger. Are your men assembled outside? Probably the best thing, given the circumstances. Is there anything else I can help you with?” She gave Scarlet her best distracted damsel-in-distress look, something she’d perfected with Judith’s help for dealing with her real father.
“No, Miss Harper. I will confer with my men, but if they’d found anything suspicious, they’d have come to me at once.” He bowed and stepped back. “Good day.” With a quick about-face, he whirled around and strode off the porch with the speed of a horse put to the spurs.
He called out, “Mount,” sprang into his saddle, and gathered the reins. The other men followed suit, and moments later, the troop was cantering down the driveway without as much as a glance backward.
Hanson joined her on the steps. “Shall I tell Alfred not to go for Mr. Cardrew, Miss Harper?”
“No, he must go. If Lieutenant Scarlet is one wit suspicious, he may wait down the road to see if Alfred actually does go for the man.” She wouldn’t put that past the lieutenant. “When Mr. Cardrew arrives, he can examine Lord Aberfoyle’s ankle and make certain it wasn’t further injured last evening.”
“Of course, Miss Harper.” Hanson turned to go then stopped. “If I may, miss, I think your scheme was wonderful.”
“Thank you, Hanson.” Dora’s heart was filled with happiness, although she wouldn’t truly know joy until she was certain Scarlet had left the vicinity of Bromley for good. Still, she must go upstairs and share the good news with Finn.
She fairly flew up the steps then ran, her slippers pattering on the carpet, to the viscount’s apartments. Not stopping to knock, she opened the door to find Larkin still patting Finn’s face with the wet handkerchief.
Finn lay unmoving in the bed, her father’s longest nightcap pulled over his head, down almost to his nose so his eyes could not be seen. The gray curls of her father’s wig were bunched around his face, hiding it further. From beneath all that disguise came a hacking sound as though he was coughing up his insides.
“Finn? Are you all right?” Dora took a tentative step toward the bed. Had he been sick all along with some lung disease she didn’t know about?
At the sound of her voice, he sat straight up in the bed, plucking both wig and nightcap from his head and tossing them to the end of the bed. “Thank Christ! Those things felt like an inferno on top o’ my head.” He blinked at her and rubbed the spot, making all his hair stand on end. He looked younger and more boyish than ever when he asked, “Can we please have breakfast noo?”