Page 34 of Almost a Countess

Violet’s lips puckered as she seemedto be containing her laughter.

Eyes narrowed, Tris shook his head ather. “One room will be sufficient, I believe.”

Smothering her own laughter, Dora ledthem up the formal staircase to the first floor and the large roomwhere her family had always gathered in the evenings. A somewhatmasculine chamber, the walls painted a deep blue, and furnished inblues and bronze, it held a comfortable sofa and chairs in severalgroupings. The walls were strewn with paintings of hunting scenes,dotted here and there with mirrors and gilded sconces.

“Please make yourselvescomfortable. I’ll just ask Hanson to arrange for tea.” She intendedto do more than that. Dora hurried out of the drawing room, pickedup her skirts, and ran the opposite way down the corridor towardthe viscount’s apartments, praying Finn was there. A discreet knockwas answered by a cheerful, “Come in.”

Dora opened the door to find Finnfully dressed, lying on top of the green jacquard coverlet, hisleft foot swathed in bandages and propped on a pillow.

“Good afternoon, Dora.”His cheery smile melted her heart so it took her a moment or two toreply to his greeting.

“Good afternoon. I see Mr.Cardrew did stop by while I was gone.” She nodded to hisfoot.

“Aye. It’s tender, but itshould mend enough tae be able tae ride in a day or two.” He cockedhis head. “Yer cheeks are flushed. Are ye quite well?”

Automatically, Dora pressed her handsto her hot cheeks. “I climbed the steps too quickly.” That plus thedread of the coming interview was making her more nervous. “I havesome news.”

“Oh?” He sat up, his faceeager. “What is it?”

“My friends Lord and LadyTrevor are in the drawing room down the hall.” She glanced awayfrom him. “I told them you were here.”

“I see.” His face gaveaway nothing. Impassive as stone. “Have they come tae banish mefrom the house?”

“No, of course not.” Sherushed to the bedside, suddenly needing to be closer to him. “I ammistress here unless my parents are in residence, which, I assureyou, they will not be any time soon. No one can deny the house toyou save me.”

“Then why dae ye look asthough ye’re standing on nails?”

She was incredibly tense. Dropping hershoulders, she breathed deeply and tried to relax. “Because theywish to meet you and, as I predicted, Lord Trevor has quite a lotto say about your presence here and your current legalstatus.”

“I suppose he would ifhe’s someone who cares for ye, Dora.” He smiled at her, and a loadlifted. “I can hold my own with his lordship and hiswife.”

“You will have no problemwith Lady Trevor. Indeed, she may be persuaded to be an ally inmanaging your journey to London.”

“Lord Trevor, however,will be a different business, I’ll wager.” Finn shrugged. “We willcome tae an accord one way or another. I beg you no’ taeworry.”

“You can beg all you want,but it will do no good.” She grinned at him and got one in return.Finn was the most comfortable gentleman to be around she’d evermet. Was it any wonder she enjoyed his company so much? “Are youable to walk down to the drawing room? I can ask Hanson to producea cane if that will help you.”

“That might be best.” Finnsat up on the bed and slid slowly to the floor. He winced as he putweight on his left foot. “I can always use it tae fend off LordTrevor.”

Dora shuddered at the image butnodded. “I’ll order tea and ask Hanson to bring one to you. Myfather kept several here.”

“As soon as he does, I’llgo tae the drawing room.” Finn’s eyes sparkled, as if he expectedto enjoy the coming confrontation. “I must beard the lion in hisden,” he grinned at her, “except it’s actually yer den.”

“Make no mistake, whoseverden it is, the only lion in residence will be Lord Trevor.” Doraleft quickly to find Hanson. Finn’s light-hearted attitude wasencouraging, and attractive, but she’d known Tris for some time.Long enough to understand this introduction and ensuingconversation would test Finn’s mettle. And if the Scotsman did orsaid anything Tris didn’t like, he might very well challenge himdespite Violet’s admonition. She prayed the gravity of thesituation had not escaped Finn.

Having found Hanson and given herorders, she carefully climbed back up the steps, dreading thecoming interview almost as much as she had the one with LieutenantScarlet. She hated to think of Tris and Finn squaring off againstone another and prayed they would keep their tempers incheck.

She entered the drawing room to findViolet sitting on a bronze-colored sofa, Tris at the sideboardsipping what she believed was cognac from a crystal tumbler. “Ifound Hanson and have ordered tea. Lord Aberfoyle will be hereshortly. He was resting after Mr. Cardrew attended his leg thismorning.”

Tris made a choking sound and spat outthe swallow of liquor he’d just taken. “Damnation, Dora.” He wipedat his face with his hand. “Now the doctor knows you have agentleman living under your roof. If he hasn’t already put two andtwo together and arrived at the conclusion that this man is theescaped prisoner, he’s a fool and a quack.” Tris daubed at the wetstain on his cravat with a handkerchief then threw up his hands.“If he has come to that conclusion, you can expect thelieutenant to knock on your door at any minute.”

Dora paused to get her anger in checkbefore answering. “Mr. Cardrew was informed that Lord Aberfoyle wasMr. Bowman, my cousin, who had arrived to break his journey toEdinburgh and injured his foot dismounting in the pouring rainyesterday evening.” She stared at Tris, who seemed unaffected. “Iam not the fool you think I am, Tristan. Neither is LordAberfoyle.”

“What Lord Aberfoyleis—”

“What Lord Aberfoyle is ishere, my lord.” Finn stood in the doorway, leaning on her father’sblackthorn stick with the embossed silver top. “And he is nae fooleither.” He limped into the room and directly to Dora. “I believeye were going tae introduce me tae yer friends, MissHarper?”

Bless him for not using her first namein this instance. “I would be honored to have you meet them.” Sheturned her back on Tris and led Finn to Violet. “Lady Trevor, may Imake known Lord Aberfoyle, a friend of mine. Lady Trevor is one ofmy dearest friends.”