Page 32 of Almost a Countess

“No.” Could she bringFinn’s father up safely? “He died at the Battle of Prestonpans in’45. Fighting for the British.”

“Well, of course he’d befighting for England.” Tris’s smile slowly faded. “Why would youspecify that, may I ask? Who else would he be fighting for? TheScots?”

“Lord Aberfoyle fought anddied for the British crown, despite the fact that he was Scottishby birth.” Now she was at the crux. “His son, the current LordAberfoyle, is also Scottish.”

“Aberfoyle?” Tris’s frownhad almost reached his nose. “I am not acquainted with any LordAberfoyle in the neighborhood. How did you meet him?”

Dora took a deep breath, ready to spina tale, then stopped. Might as well pay the piper now as later. Sheneeded both Violet’s and Tris’s help with Finn so they would haveto know the truth. “I came upon him by the creek that runsalongside Hawkins’s farmland.” She stared directly into Tris’s faceand sent a prayer heavenward. “He’s the escaped prisoner LieutenantScarlet is looking for.”

Tris’s expression was almost themirror of Violet’s. His jaw dropped and his face turned bright redbefore darkening with unbridled anger. “What did you just say,Dora?”

Suddenly having had enough, Dora satback, shoulders straight, her gaze unwavering. “I said thegentleman is Lord Aberfoyle, the man Lieutenant Scarlet has falselyaccused of treason.” She leaned toward Tris. “And I intend to helphim prove it false.”

Tris shot up off the chaise, headingfor the sideboard. “You’ll do no such thing.”

Dora bounded up after him. “You haveno right to tell me what I can and cannot do, Lord Trevor. I am notmarried to you.”

“Good thing you’re not, byChrist.” Tris poured half a tumbler of brandy.

“Tristan.” Violet hadrisen as well and trailed them over to the sideboard. “You will notspeak to a guest in our house in that manner. Dora is our friend towhom we owe a debt we can never repay.” She fixed her husband witha stern eye. “At the very least we will hear her out before makinga rash judgment.” Violet turned to Dora. “Come back to the chaise,my dear. Let me ring for some fresh tea while Tris is settling hisfeathers, and you will start again.”

Grateful for her friend’sunderstanding, Dora allowed herself to be led back to her seat.When the tea had been served and Tris returned to the group, albeitacross from Dora so he could stare mercilessly at her, she beganher tale again. Taking the time to explain everything in the orderin which it had happened, Dora thought she made more sense thistime. Violet certainly looked more sympathetic toward Finn’splight.

Tristan, however, remainedbelligerent.

“I simply cannot believeyou have harbored a fugitive from the law, actively deceived theking’s soldiers, and perhaps worst of all, compromised yourreputation by allowing a man unrelated to you to spend the night inyour father’s house without any sort of chaperone present.” Tris’shand tightened on his glass until the knuckles showed white. “I canscarcely believe this is you, Dora. You have never acted sorecklessly before.”

“I never had theopportunity before.” She hated to sound impertinent, but she’d hadenough of Lord Trevor’s superciliousness. “I’ve been under myfather’s thumb my entire life. He’s the one who sent me here,without benefit of a chaperone, I might remind you.” She glared atTris until he glanced away. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve had a tasteof freedom I’d never have had otherwise. I’ve managed and run thehousehold as I’ve seen fit, and it’s none the worse for it. It’sopened my eyes to what I’m capable of accomplishing on myown.”

“But Dora, you seem to beignoring the very real dangers your actions have opened you to.”This was a stern Tristan Dora had never seen before. “First andforemost, you have broken the law. You have been complicit inaiding and abetting this man, which makes you an accessory afterthe fact.”

Dora bit her lip. She’d known therewould be consequences for helping Finn, but she couldn’t, in goodconscience have done anything different. “What does that mean? WillI be taken to jail if the authorities find out?”

Tris set his drink down and leanedback, arms crossed. “As I understand the law, it will depend onseveral things, such as whether or not the criminal had been triedand found guilty. However, in most cases, the accessory willreceive the same sentence as the criminal himself.”

Closing her eyes, Dora swallowed hardagainst the gorge rising in her throat. These consequences were somuch worse than any she might have imagined.

“If the man is convictedof treason, Dora, he will die a particularly horrible death.”Grim-faced, Tris continued to stare at her. “We will have to prayyou can throw yourself on the court’s mercy.”

“Do you intend to turn mein then, Tris?” Her tone was flat, masking her fury at him.“Because no one knows I’ve aided him save you and the members of myhousehold. I’m certain they will not breathe a word ofit.”

“Of course we will saynothing.” Violet put her arm around Dora.

With a sigh, Tris sat forward, hisface suddenly less forbidding. “Dora, I would never do anything tocause you harm. You must know that. However, I’m worried you maycome to grief because of this.”

“I do know it, Tris, andI’m sorry to have made you unhappy.” At last, she could look at himwithout the profound hurt he’d just inflicted making her want tocast up her accounts. “But I will tell you that a bigger injusticehas been done to Lord Aberfoyle, and no one seems to want to defendhim save me. Lieutenant Scarlet has no reason to charge him withtreason. Lord Aberfoyle may have broken a law, but it is not atreasonous offense.”

“Can you even be certainthe man is who he says he is? That he’s not simply impersonatingthis Lord Aberfoyle?”

“That is who he told me hewas, and I believe him.” Dora met his eyes evenly. “I have noproof, save his word, but I do believe him. He certainly acts asgentlemen do. His manners, his speech, the way he carries himself,everything he does tells me he is a gentleman.”

“That does not mean he iswho he says he is.”

Stubborn man. She held Tris’s gaze asshe pronounced, “If you met him, you’d believe it too.”

“Oh, I fully intend tomeet this blackguard,” Tris bent forward to retrieve his drink,“and call him out for ruining your reputation.”

Fisting her hands to keep fromstrangling the man, Dora fixed her erstwhile fiancé with a deadlystare. “He could not do that which you have already done, mylord.”