Page 12 of Almost a Countess

“The Dress Act.” Finncouldn’t help smiling at her agitation. She was terribly sweet toworry about him.

“The Dress Act, then.” Shefrowned, her mouth set in a straight line. “A law that has its ownpunishment when broken. The lieutenant cannot simply say youcommitted treason when you actually broke a different law.” Herbrows furrowed deeper. “You said there was a penalty for disobeyingthe Dress Act. That’s what you should be charged with, nottreason.”

“Och, I suppose ’tis afine line between the two if ye look at it from Scarlet’sperspective.” Finn cocked his head. She did seem truly concernedfor him. Was she married? Surreptitiously, he glanced at her lefthand, but there was no ring. Even a widow would still wear herring. If not married, then where were her parents? “The Scots whofought on the Jacobite side in the rising were considered guilty o’treason. Scarlet was sae incensed at my actions he would havecertainly tried tae make a case for charging me withtreason.”

“How could he do that?”The woman looked more and more perplexed.

Finn studied her face, looking forsome clue as to her identity. By her speech, her carriage, hermanners, she seemed to be of aristocratic birth, although perhapsshe was of the wealthier gentry. “The penalty for breaking theDress Act is seldom enforced, and he wanted me punished tae thefullest extent o’ the law. Perhaps he kens the garrison commanderwill side with him. My wearing a kilt might have roused thecommander’s anger as well.” Finn shrugged. “However, after a smalltaste o’ Scarlet’s personal attentions, I decided I wisna going taegive him the opportunity tae continue them.”

“What did he do?” MissHarper clutched his hand, sending a spark dancing up hisarm.

“He took me away from thekirk, unconscious and draped over a horse with my hands tied. Ionly came tae when we stopped tae water the horses, and Scarletdragged me off the horse and threw me tae the ground. He paradedaround in front o’ his men, waving his sword wildly. Almost tookGates’s head off once. So most o’ the men kept pretty quiet. Hewent on and on about how some o’ the British soldiers were soft onthe filthy Scots who’d rebelled against King George, but he damnwell wisna one o’ them. He meant tae teach me a lesson afore heturned me in.” The lieutenant had fixed Finn with a malevolentstare that had chilled him to the bone. At that point, he’d begunto fear for his life. “That’s when let fly wi’ the hilt o’ hissword a brawlin’ punch tae my eye.” Gingerly, Finn touched thebruised flesh. The eye had been swollen shut for a day. “I thoughta nest o’ hornets had exploded in my head.”

“Dear Lord.” Miss Harper’sface paled. “And your hands were tied when he did this?”

“Aye. I truly thought hemeant tae make an end tae me when he drew back his foot tae kickme. He had a savage look in his eye I’ve seen only once before, ina mad dog that lashed out at anyone in its path. But one o’ his menspoke up and said they needed tae get on the road if they wantedtae report t’ the garrison in Edinburgh by tomorrow.” Thatsoldier’s remark may have saved Finn’s life, though it did the manno good. “Scarlet strode over tae the man without a word andbackhanded him. Bloodied his nose. ‘I’ll be the one who says whenwe need tae move, Sayers.’”

The stricken look on Miss Harper’sface made Finn recall his audience might not wish to hear all thegory details.

“Fortunately, Scarlet thentold them all tae mount up, but he looked at me and said ‘I’llcontinue your lessons later, Scot.’”

“What a horrible, horribleman.” Miss Harper shivered. “No wonder Mrs. Jameson and Mr. Hawkinswarned me of him.” She leaned forward. “How did you everescape?”

“That night we camped in aboggy spot, and Scarlet started tae drink heavily as soon as westopped. They’d untied my hands so I could eat, but I’d barelystarted when Scarlet said I’d had enough and knocked the plate outo’ my hands. Then he told the others I was a traitor tae the crownfor wearing my kilt and should therefore receive the punishment fortreason.” Finn raised an eyebrow at Miss Harper. “Dae ye ken whatthe Crown does tae those found guilty o’ that crime?”

“They put you to death.”The lady shuddered. “I suppose hanging is the normal waynow.”

“Aye, hanging’s part o’it, but only the first part. They then dae other things tae ye thatare no’ sae pleasant.” The story of the Scottish hero Sir WilliamWallace had been told to Finn since he’d been a child, includingthe details of his gruesome death.

“Dear God.” Miss Harperhad paled considerably. Perhaps he shouldn’t elaborate.

Hanging, drawing, and quartering wasthe standard method of death for traitors. Horrible enough, but, asScarlet had informed his men, in medieval England, there had alsobeen the added agony of emasculation. The lieutenant had laughedand said anything that would stop the production of Scots was anEnglishman’s duty so they should start now with the prisoner athand.

Finn shuddered just thinking about themaniacal glint in Scarlet’s eyes as he came toward him. “Aye, andwhen Lieutenant Scarlet began thinking tae start my punishmentafore I’d even been tried and convicted, well, I thought I’d bestbe parting company with the lot o’ them.”

“What did you do?” Eyesbright, Miss Harper hung on his every word.

“I waited until Scarletwas almost bending over me then I drew my legs up tae my chest andkicked him right in the stomach. He went sailing backward, intaetwo o’ the others, knocking them over like ninepins. I ran for thehorses, swung up on the biggest o’ them, which happened to beScarlet’s, then scattered the others as I took off.” Finn’s pulseraced thinking of that harrowing escape. “The soldiers got off afew shots, but ’twas dark and they were fairly in their cups. Theytried tae pursue me, but thankfully I got clean away. Fortunately,I know all the roads between Aberfoyle and Edinburgh, sae I foundmy way tae the Great North Road easily.”

“Heading south to London,you said earlier.” She cocked her head, and that suspicious gleamreturned to her eyes. “Why not return to your home to straightenthe matter out? You said this law is often flouted with nopenalty.”

“With Scarlet out for myblood, I dinna want tae take that chance, Miss Harper. Thelieutenant would probably expect me tae head back home and wouldhave overtaken me quickly. For that reason alone, I would haveheaded south, but in the end, I decided I needed tae get t’London.”

“Why? What’s inLondon?”

“My uncle, who’s got greatinfluence with Parliament. If anyone can get this sorted, he can.”Finn prayed to God Uncle Abernethy could do so.

“How did you come to be inthe ditch where I found you?” She wrinkled her nose. “You werecertainly far from the Great North Road there.”

Finn sighed. His luck had run shallowagain. “T’ avoid a tollbooth two days ago, I struck out across anopen field. My horse put his foot in a hole and pitched me over hishead as he fell. I must have hit my head and passed out for when Icame tae, the animal was nowhere tae be seen.”

“Then that’s how yousprained your ankle.” Miss Harper’s features relaxed. “That wasn’tScarlet or his men’s doing.”

“Nae, only my ownmisfortune that time.”

“And still you wish toride to London, more than five days from here.” She appraised himfrankly, making Finn all too aware of his vulnerable state. “Do youhonestly think you can ride so far in your currentcondition?”

Her disparaging tone set his teeth onedge. “Whether or no’ I can remains tae be seen, but attempt it Imust. There are those there, my uncle among them, who have enoughpower tae countermand any charge Lieutenant Scarlet lays againstme.”