Page 35 of Almost a Countess

“I am delighted to meetyou, my lord.” Violet extended her hand as she cut her gaze over toDora. “Miss Harper has told me something about you, but I wouldlike for us to become better acquainted still.”

“I would be honored, LadyTrevor.” Finn kissed the air above Violet’s hand.

An exasperated groan behind them toldDora Tristan would explode were he not allowed to join theconversation. As much as she would’ve liked to build his suspense alittle more, she wanted this meeting to go as well as it could. Sheturned to Tris. “Lord Aberfoyle, allow me to also present LordTrevor. We have been good friends as well.”

“My lord.” Finn made aformal bow then straightened and very frankly looked Tris up anddown.

“Lord Aberfoyle.” A crisp,almost curt bow from Tris, who then took out a quizzing glass ofall things and proceeded to peer at Finn. “Miss Harper informs methat you have run afoul of the law in recent days.”

“I have, my lord. A tryingtime, made tolerable by Miss Harper’s kind understanding. I couldno’ have made it tae this point wi’out her assistance. I cannarepay her for her generous hospitality.”

“Indeed.” Tris dropped hisquizzer and stared curiously at Finn. “Would you like somethingbesides tea, Aberfoyle?”

Much too jovial for Tris, given hisearlier animosity toward Finn. Yet here he was leading Finn over tothe sideboard, about to ply him with drink. What he intended to sayto him Dora wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Still, she had aninkling of an idea that Finn could hold his own and Tristan mightbe in for a surprise.

“You really needn’t worryabout Tris, Dora.” Violet was patting the sofa beside her. “He haspromised me he will not issue a challenge of any kind to LordAberfoyle.”

“Yes, but I cannot givethe same guarantee about Finn.” Wanting to test the waters, so tospeak, Dora purposefully slipped his first name in.

True to her good nature, Violet didnot look shocked at the intimacy, although she did have a certaintwinkle in her eyes. “Finn?”

“Yes.” Dora looked awayjust as the door opened and James appeared with tea. Thankgoodness. She could hide her embarrassment while acting as hostess.“Short for Phineas.”

“I suspected as much.”Violet smiled and looked over at Tris and Finn, now deep into somediscussion. “Although I have only just met him, I think he’s a verypersonable gentleman. Two lumps of sugar and a good bit of milk.”She accepted the delicate teacup with a pattern of pink and yellowroses, and stirred her tea slowly. “Have you formed an attachmentso quickly, Dora? Is that wise?”

“I assure you it was notmy intention but,” Dora’s gaze followed where Violet’s had been andher heart beat double just to see Finn standing there, “one cannothelp to whom one is drawn. I would like to spend more time withhim, to see if I think we would suit.” She dragged her gaze awayfrom Finn and brought it back to Violet. “What can I do, Violet?Now you and Tris are in residence, I’m certain your husband willendeavor to keep us apart until Finn is ready to leave. A shorttime, true, but I do wish to talk with him more, like we did lastnight at dinner.”

“I am sure we can arrangefor the two of you to spend time together, if,” Violet stared ather over her teacup, her brows raised, “and only if, you promise meyou will do nothing whatsoever but talk.”

Until that moment, Dora hadn’t thoughtto do anything else, but now Violet had brought the idea to mind,she couldn’t put it out of her mind. If they were alonetogether, might Finn try to kiss her? Did he think of her as morethan just the woman who had saved him? And would a kiss be theentryway to deeper intimacies? She wasn’t ready for such thingsyet, but if and when she was… “I will promise you to only talk toFinn if we are alone, but in return you must tell me…”

“Tell you what, mydear?”

“How to seduceFinn.”

****

Somehow, Finn had known Lord Trevorwould attempt to get him alone as soon as possible to read him theriot act where Dora was concerned. He supposed he could have put itoff, but what point in delaying the inevitable dire warnings untilafter dinner? Might as well assure the gentleman immediately thathe had no intention of seducing the lady, and that all his actionshad been quite honorable.

“Aberfoyle, what the deuceare you doing?” Trevor poured him a good two fingers of the spiritsand set the glass on the sideboard before him.

“Sharing a drink with ye,my lord, among other things.” Finn sniffed the tumbler, pleased todiscover an older vintage of cognac. “If ye mean why am I imposingon Miss Harper’s hospitality still, that is totally due tae myinability tae ride. Once I can travel, I will be on my way. I am inas much hurry tae go as ye are for me tae be gone.”

“And what about the damageyou have already done to Miss Harper’s reputation? You spent thenight together in a house with only servants for chaperones.” Thegentleman’s face hardened, and Finn was taken aback by the ferocityhe beheld. “Should word get out about this behavior—I have no ideathat it would, but gossip seems to spring up from the earth likeweeds—I will seek you out and you will, of course, marryher.”

Pompous ass. “I am almost insulted,Trevor, that ye think ye need tae state such a thing. O’ course,having stayed the night in her house without benefit o’ chaperone,although I was locked in my room, mind ye, I would certainly agreetae marry Miss Harper without hesitation.” He glared at Trevor. “Agentleman could dae nae less.”

“At least we understandone another, Aberfoyle.” Trevor nodded and sipped hiscognac.

“I think yer largerproblem may be convincing Miss Harper tae marry me.”

That notion seemed to give Trevorpause. His mouth firmed, as though the cognac had suddenly soured.Finally, he shrugged. “If she objects, she can be made to seereason. In the end, she’ll do what she’s told.”

“Ye dinna know her well,dae ye, my lord?” Impertinent, of course, but Finn didn’t sufferfools.

The tumbler in Trevor’s hand trembledslightly and the man’s jaw creaked with strain as he clenched it.“Had I not promised my wife to have restraint, you’d be receivingmy challenge this instant, sir.”

“For making a simpleobservation? She told me the story o’ yer betrothal, my lord, andwhy she ended it. Ye’re still fond o’ Miss Harper, clear enough.However, I suggest that if ye think she’ll play the dutiful youngwoman and blindly dae what she is told, she has changed since yelast saw her, for that is no’ the Miss Harper I’ve encounteredthese past two days.”