Almost a Countess by Jenna Jaxon
Chapter 26
The morning had just begun and already Dora’s heart had been twisted this way and that as though a laundry woman had wrung it out on washing day. To see Finn fighting the odious Lieutenant Scarlet, see him almost shot—she’d believed she would die of fright when the lieutenant had raised his pistol at Finn—and then miraculously saved by the uncle he’d been trying to find, was simply too much for her to comprehend. She clung to Finn’s arm, never wanting to let him go again.
They entered the inn just behind his uncle, a most imposing gentleman, and her aunt, Dora still clinging to Finn. “How did your uncle find you? And at the exact opportune moment? How can you tell me it’s not a miracle?”
“Och, I can completely believe in an angel sending a miracle tae save me from Scarlet. I even thought it would take the form o’ Uncle Abernethy, but through the courts, mind ye, no’ with a blazing pistol.” He patted her arm and led her back toward her and her aunt’s room.
When they entered, the old breakfast things had been whisked away, the room tidied, and a new table laid with fresh, hot food.
Dora took off her shawl and gloves and sat in her accustomed place at the table. She couldn’t decide whether she was ravenous or too distraught to eat a thing. Finn sat to her right, Lord Abernethy to the left, and Aunt Mimi across from her.
“I instructed Mr. Perry to serve breakfast once more. If you have eaten your fill already, you may have tea and toast to keep up your end of the table.” Aunt Mimi removed her gloves and laid them in her lap. “Now, my lord,” she turned eagerly to Lord Abernethy, “what’s the news? Why did that lieutenant run out of here with his tail between his legs?”
“Perhaps we should allow Lord Abernethy a chance to eat his breakfast, aunt.” Dora was dying to know as well, but one should not be so pointed or insistent when someone was going out of their way to accommodate you.
“I can talk just as well waiting for my breakfast.” His lordship gazed around at them until he landed on Finn. “I’m certain ye have a question or two for me, nephew.”
“Indeed I dae, uncle.” Finn leaned forward, as though he wanted to jump out of the chair. “First, how did ye come tae be here, at this inn, at the precise time tae shoot the pistol out o’ Scarlet’s hand. It seems like more than a coincidence.”
“No’ a coincidence exactly, lad.” His uncle smiled. “I left London three days ago after receiving a letter from Lord Trevor, who I believe ye ken.”
“Tris!” Dora sat up, entranced. She might have known Tris would have a hand in their rescue.
“Trevor? Trevor sent ye a letter?” Finn cocked his head, the puzzled look on his face somewhere between confusion and resentment.
“Yes, he told me o’ yer scheme tae go tae London in the duchess’s carriage, disguised as a woman. A brilliant idea, by the way.” Abernethy shook his head. “By rights, Scarlet shouldna have found ye. Shouldna have been looking for three women traveling together.”
“He was tipped off, my lord.” Dora wanted to confess that bit since her aunt’s carriage was partly responsible for their discovery. “A groom at the inn where we spent the night before last told him about our next destination and the disguise.”
“Pity there’s nae crime in being disloyal. Wouldna have happened in my day.”
“Mine either, my lord.” Aunt Mimi had been taking in all the interactions, biding her time. “Nothing is as it was half a century ago.”
Impatience flaring, Finn broke in. “Sae Trevor wrote giving ye the locations where we planned tae stop along the way?”
“He did. Else I would still be in my townhouse in London. Trevor’s the reason I set out tae find ye and not just wait for ye tae arrive, as yer letter suggested, Aberfoyle.” Lord Abernethy sat straighter when the door opened and breakfast arrived. “I suppose Trevor is responsible for saving yer life. Otherwise, I’d no’ have been tae hand tae rein in that idiot.”
“I still say it’s a miracle ye arrived in the nick tae shoot his hand.” Finn grabbed Dora’s hand under the table and squeezed. “Another second, and he’d have shot me in the chest.”
“Oh, it wasn’t left up tae much chance, nephew. I arrived just after ye began the fight.” Lord Abernethy sipped his tea, looking for the world as though he were discussing gardening with his nephew.
“Even sae, uncle, I could feel the icy claw o’ death close around me.”
“Nonsense. Ye were rattled because Miss Harper was watching.” His lordship put down his cup and nodded to Finn. “One holds life dearer when one has found the purpose for it. Life becomes more precious because o’ the ones we dinna want tae leave behind.”
Finn looked at Dora with dark, liquid eyes. “I agree, uncle.”
“But here, tell me everything from the beginning. Sae convoluted a tale I need tae hear from the start, in the correct order sae tae make sense o’ it.”
As they ate breakfast, Finn and Dora, when her path crossed his, told everything that had happened. It was comforting to know Finn had such a champion, but she didn’t wish to ever be on the wrong side of Lord Abernethy.
“Well,” his lordship said when they had finished, “Lieutenant Scarlet certainly had the tenacity o’ a bulldog. No’ at all a bad quality in a good soldier. I wish him luck o’ Rothes, but I suspect he’ll have none.”
“Will he be cashiered?” Dora understood that was one of the most dishonorable things that could happen to a soldier.
“If he’s lucky, that’s all he will get. He overstepped his authority, which is discouraged in an army officer. He should have kenned better and had he no’ been sae far from his regiment, they would have nipped the whole thing in the bud.” Lord Abernethy sipped more tea, looking thoughtful. He shook his head. “Had I known about the debauchery he tried tae enact on Miss Harper, I suspect he would have been hung. He is fortunate that his little demonstration didna succeed. Had it done sae, I would follow him tae London and lay all the facts before Rothes. Scarlet would have been flogged for disrespecting a woman and the future Countess o’ Aberfoyle, had I anything tae dae wi’ it.
“And speaking o’ this fictional countess who does no’ yet exist, when dae ye intend tae ask for her hand, nephew?” Lord Abernethy frowned deeply at Finn, who suddenly decided to study his plate of food. The marquess then turned his gaze on her, and Dora trembled. “Yer father is Lord Downing, I believe Lord Trevor said in his letter. Is that correct, Miss Harper?”
“Yes, my lord. I am his youngest daughter.” Tris had been quite the chatterer to Lord Abernethy. What else might he have mentioned?
“Is he in London?” His lordship peered at Finn. “If sae, ye can take the most expedient road and ask for her as soon as we reach Town.”
Dora, Finn, and Aunt Mimi exchanged a look.
“What was that about?” The marquess’s eyes narrowed. “What else have ye no’ told me?”
“The reason I went to Dora in Yorkshire, my lord,” Aunt Mimi eyed her and Finn, “was to inform her that her father was in the process of arranging a marriage for her with Sir Harry Walters. Before this information could be imparted to her, she and Lord Aberfoyle had fallen in love and planned to marry.”
“We still dae, uncle.” Straightening his back, Finn stuck out his chin. That always made him look particularly fierce. “We dinna care what her father says, we will marry.”
“Indeed?” Lord Abernethy dug a quizzer out of this jacket and proceeded to look Finn and Dora up and down. “And how dae ye propose tae dae that? I assume Miss Harper has no’ reached her majority yet, and therefore will need her parent’s permission.”
Dora nodded slowly. The marquess was trying to intimidate her, and she wouldn’t let that happen. Seize the moment. “I believe your next objection or observation will be that I will have no dowry if I marry against my father’s wishes. That is true, I will not receive a dime from him. However, my grandmother, who I was named after, left me quite a substantial fortune. I need only to wait until I achieve my majority, and I will inherit her fortune and properties. My father cannot touch or control that money, as it was put in trust for me years ago.” She smiled sweetly at Lord Abernethy. “So if you think Finn and I can live on his estates’ income for the next few years, we will reap the benefits of my grandmother’s generosity eventually.”
Lord Abernethy studied her for some minutes, until Dora began to get uncomfortable under his gaze. “Aberfoyle, I approve. Ye have chosen wisely. If ye can arrange the marriage either with Lord Downing or without him, ye have my full blessing.”
“Thank ye, uncle!” Finn beamed first at him then at Dora. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “I kenned he would approve o’ ye, mo gradh.”
“That being said, nephew, what are the chances o’ Lord Downing approving yer suit?” His uncle sipped tea, the beverage of everyone experiencing a crisis.
“I’m afraid those odds are exceedingly long, my lord. I can tell you I would not take them.” Aunt Mimi spoke up.
“In which case, my lord, aunt,” Dora squeezed the arms of her chair, trying to buck up her courage. “I suggest we bypass my father completely, leave here today and travel to Scotland. We could marry there, where I will need nothing save two witnesses and someone to marry us.” She gazed around the stunned table. “Well?”
“I would have nae problem whatsoever with that plan.” Thankfully, Finn rushed to support her. “For us tae be married at Aberfoyle would be my fondest wish.”
“It is a scandalous move, Dora.” Aunt Mimi stirred her tea rather briskly. “One that would taint both your marriage and your family’s reputation. And while your father’s conduct toward you all these years might argue that he deserves whatever recriminations would be heaped upon his head, your poor mother does not.”
Dora dropped her gaze to her still-full breakfast plate. There was some truth to that. Mamma had often supported her in small ways at home. Her mother had not championed Dora when Father and Simon had browbeaten her, but neither had she had the active animosity toward her that her father and brother had. And Dora would be the last child wed. Her mother might feel it keenly if she missed it. “That may be true, Aunt Mimi, but I must weigh that against the very real possibility that if given the chance, Father will refuse Finn’s suit and insist that I marry Sir Harry.” She stared straight at her aunt. She knew Dora’s father as well as Dora did. “You cannot deny he might do it simply to spite me.”
“Oh, yes, Melchior is as vindictive a man as I have ever met. His sending you to Yorkshire alone as punishment is an excellent example.” Aunt Mimi sniffed. “I therefore think it a delightful turn of events that you have fallen in love with a worthy gentleman because you were simply in the right place at the right time. Your father will be completely incensed.” She smiled viciously. “I, for one, would pay good money to see his face when that is pointed out to him.”
“I have nae acquaintance with Lord Downing,” Lord Abernethy addressed himself to Dora, “however, I will make clear tae him the many advantages o’ your marriage tae my nephew. He’d be a fool tae turn it down.”
“I give you warning, Melchior has been known to act foolishly.” The duchess cut her eyes at Dora, and something predatory in them made her grasp Finn’s hand. “However, I am in possession of information that you may be able to use to convince the stubborn man it would be in his best interests to agree to the marriage.” Pursing her lips, she glared directly at Dora. “And quickly if he wishes to avoid scandal.” Frowning, Finn leaned over to whisper in Dora’s ear, “What is she talking about?”
Dora shook her head then dropped it to her chest to hide her face, turning red even before her aunt spoke. “That evening at The Red Lion,” she whispered.
“What information is that, Duchess?” Lord Abernethy sounded suspicious, and with good cause.
“That my niece and your nephew, once they had pledged themselves, felt no compunction against anticipating their wedding night.”
Dora’s face was on fire to the tips of her ears. “Aunt Mimi, what are you saying? That’s simply not—”
“And I have no doubt the instance I have knowledge of was not the only time they have done so.”
Wincing as if receiving a blow, Dora put her hands over her blazing face. Oh, what must Lord Abernethy think of her? And it wasn’t even true. “Finn!” she whispered at him. “Tell them we did nothing.”
“Duchess,” Finn began, “I think ye misunderstood—”
“Excellent!” The glee in his lordship’s voice brought Dora’s head up.
She sent a confused look to Finn, who shrugged and shook his head. “Why is that a good thing, uncle?”
“Because even though Downing may no’ wish the marriage tae go forward, he will wish even less for that scandal tae get about. If his daughter is increasing, he will have nae choice but tae let ye marry.” With a jaunty smile, Abernethy drained his tea.
“Increasing?” The shock made Dora’s voice into a squeak.
“Dinna think about that, sweetheart.” Putting his arm around her shoulders, Finn pulled her close. “It matters no’ if ye carry my child. We will be married long ere that becomes a consideration.”
“But the prospect that you are increasing is why you will not need to elope to Scotland.” Her aunt had a most satisfied smile on her face. “If your father believed you were unmarriageable because you jilted Lord Trevor, how much more would you be now that you’ve taken a lover?”
Flinching at that bald statement, Dora wanted nothing more than to race through the bedroom door and burrow beneath the covers. Ignore everything that was happening until she could make some sense of it. Too much had occurred this morning for her to comprehend it all.
“So we are in accord, Lord Abernethy?” Aunt Mimi buttered a bit of toast and slathered it with marmalade, just as if she were eating a leisurely breakfast at home. Not deciding the Fate of Dora’s life to come.
“We are, Duchess. Shall I write tae Lord Downing or will ye?”
“I will write to him and draw him from Wiltshire back to London with talk of the impending marriage.” Her aunt’s eyes twinkled. “I simply will not specify who Dora is reputedly marrying. Once he is in Town, you and your nephew will call upon him, make him cognizant of the facts, and arrange for settlements to be signed.”
Dora had known her aunt possessed a wide streak of deviousness, but never had it been so apparent as now. One had to wonder if she’d given her and Finn that evening together on purpose to gain this advantage.
“An admirable ambush, Duchess.” The look of esteem in Lord Abernethy’s eyes was tinged with something else as well. Something much warmer, it seemed. “I will be most happy tae be able tae claim kinship wi’ ye.”
Aunt Mimi’s cheeks pinkened, but she tossed her head and finished her toast. “Our next task will be to keep these two from repeating their indiscretion until their vows are spoken.”
“I see nae reason we should be sae restrained,” Finn spoke up quickly. “As we will be married, one way or the other, why does it matter what we dae?”
Dora’s ears perked up. That was true. Even if she and Finn hadn’t anticipated their wedding night, if her aunt and his uncle thought they had, it shouldn’t matter what they did now.
“Because we live in a civilized society, young man.” Her aunt’s voice rang out crisply. “And while it is necessary for Dora’s father to know you have anticipated the wedding, it is imperative that no one else does. And if you continue to meet freely, Society will not only suspect, but they will also gossip about such scandalous behavior. Would you like for Dora’s image to be caricatured and published in every scandal sheet in Town?”
Dora shuddered, and Finn shook his head violently. “Nae, nae. Never would we want that tae happen.” He sighed and took her hand. “We’ll need tae restrain ourselves, my love.” Then lowered his voice to a whisper. “Or be very, very careful.”
“I believe these negotiations are complete then.” Aunt Mimi rose, bringing everyone else to their feet. “We will leave for London immediately. Once there, Dora and I will reside at my townhouse, pending her father’s arrival. I assume Lord Aberfoyle will reside with you, my lord, unless he has his own establishment in Town?”
“The lad can stay with me in Belgravia. Best tae have him underfoot where I can keep an eye on him. Once we speak tae Downing, we can proceed with the wedding plans.” Lord Abernethy bowed. “I am delighted tae have met ye, Duchess. I look forward tae working with ye closely on this little scheme. Quite a diversion from my usual political activities.”
“Delighted as well, my lord.” Aunt Mimi sent the marquess a flirtatious glance. “I look forward to our next meeting with great anticipation.”
Dora and Finn exchanged a scandalized look, but the marquess strode out of the parlor and Aunt Mimi turned to them.
“The carriage should be readied, and we must be off. London and your future await.” She swept from the room, calling back over her shoulder, “Come along, the both of you. Tempusfugit.”