Page 37 of Almost a Countess

“Good morning, my dear.How are you?” Violet kissed Dora on the cheek then headed straightto the sideboard and took up a plate. “You will be happy to knowthat Tristan will be riding back to Yewtree Hall shortly. I havesent him on an errand there and while he is at home, I reminded himthere are several letters to which he needs to reply. These twotasks should keep him busy for most of the afternoon, quite longenough for you and Lord Aberfoyle to enjoy your picnic.”

Dora beamed at her from across thetable. “You are the most wonderful friend to me, Violet.” Unable toresist, she rose, scurried around the table, and threw her armsaround her friend.

“You are more thanwelcome, although it was nothing any good wife would not do for herhusband.” Violet’s eyes twinkled.

Dora’s cheeks blazed. Chances wereslim that Violet was speaking of merely reminding her husband ofhis correspondence. Had her friend indulged in marital congress inorder to persuade Tris to absent himself from Bromley for the day?Whatever she had done, Dora was more than grateful.

With a sigh, she returned to herbreakfast, although her mind kept drifting back to thoughts ofFinn. How she’d love to try some of those wiles on him if they weremarried. Her whole face flamed as though she’d been riding in thesun without a hat. Still, that was the goal. To find a gentlemanshe could love and who she was compatible with and hope he wasequally in love with her. A tall order, but perhaps her luck inlove had changed.

“Good morning,ladies.”

Dora looked up and into Finn’s intenseblue eyes, and her mouth dried.

“Good morning, my lord.”Violet nodded cheerfully as she buttered a slice of toast. “How isyour injury? I hope it did not cause you any discomfort during thenight.”

“Thank ye, Lady Trevor. Ithink I slept excellently, but I dinna remember a thing, sae Isuppose all was well.” He grinned at her. “Good morning, MissHarper. Ye’re looking bonny this morning.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Dorahad to force the words out. Would she be tongue tied with Finn allduring the picnic? What a time to revert to her old, shy ways. “Isee you are dressed to ride.”

He’d borrowed more of Simon’sclothing, which included a brown close-fitting jacket, a darkburgundy waistcoat, and brown buckskin breeches that fit himamazingly well. They must have been older clothing, from yearsbefore, if they fit Finn. He looked magnificent.

“I am, Miss Harper. Ithought it would be best if I try tae ride today, in the event Ineed tae leave precipitously.” He cast a glance over her still-fullplate. “May I bring ye something?”

Dora looked at her plate, heaped highwith eggs, ham, sausages, kippers, and toast. “I thank you, mylord, but you would be hard-pressed to find anything I have notalready tried.”

Chuckling, Finn continued to thesideboard. “Well, if ye think of anything, I will do my best taefetch it for ye.”

Dora bit her lip and shot a glance atViolet, who stared sternly at her and mouthed the words, “Askhim.”

“My lord,” Dora forcedherself to speak, “I was wondering if you would like some companyon your ride? I thought, since the day is fair, we might take apicnic lunch with us and enjoy a little respite from all ourconcerns.”

Turning to her from thesideboard—where his plate had begun to overshadow hers—he grinnedbrilliantly. “Noo that’s a braw idea, Dora. We’ve had much tae dealwith these last days sae I’ll gladly take yer company. Do ye have aparticular destination in mind?”

“I believe we need to stayin the inner parts of the estate as we do not know for certain thesoldiers have indeed moved on.” Dora sipped her tea, scarcelyregistering it was cold.

“Agreed. Lady Trevor, willye and Lord Trevor accompany us? A party is alwayswelcome.”

A gallant statement given Tris’sanimosity toward Finn.

“I am afraid my husbandmust attend to business on his estate. He rode over earlier thismorning. I do not expect him before dinner.” Violet managed toaffect a sad look. “And I do not feel up to riding these days. Infact, Lord Trevor is on the brink of telling me I should not do so.A friend of ours suffered a miscarriage after a horse bolted withher.” She shuddered. “I will not tempt fate when Tris’s heir is atstake.” She smiled and nodded to Dora. “I trust you will be in verycapable hands nonetheless, my lord.”

Finn looked from Violet to Dora andgrinned. “I dae as well, Lady Trevor.” His gaze strayed back toDora where it rested long enough to make her heart beat likethunder in her chest. “I certainly dae.”

****

Sitting atop Hannibal once more, Finnsurveyed his surroundings as he waited for Dora to join him. Afterbreakfast, she’d excused herself to change into her riding habitand he’d gone ahead and mounted to see if he would indeed be ableto ride today. Bandaged inside his boot, the offending ankle seemeda little painful but bearable. He’d know for certain as soon asthey began to ride.

He eyed the long driveway then gazedat the expansive front lawn, appreciating the symmetry of itsgardens, filled with red, gold, and purple blooms. A damn fineproperty from what he’d seen. Perfectly landscaped rather than thewilderness of lands around his home, Daingneach Mòr. Could someonewho’d grown up in these cultured surroundings be equally happy in avastly different setting?

The front door opened, and Doraemerged, now attired in the same trim riding habit of brown edgedin gold she’d worn yesterday with the addition today of a littleblack velvet jockey cap that looked utterly sweet perched on hergolden curls. She looked up at him, shielding her eyes from theglare of the morning sun. “How is your ankle today?”

“We are about tae findout.” He tried putting a little pressure on the limb and wasrewarded with a twinge of pain. Still, it might be all right oncethey actually began to ride.

“Well, just so you know, Ihave my smelling salts at the ready.” She patted the pocket of herhabit before Alfred tossed her up onto Gretchen.

“Is that meant tae keep mefrom fainting? Because it will.” Finn adjusted his reins, hoping hespoke the truth.

“I hadn’t considered it.”She smiled as she settled herself in the sidesaddle. “But if thatcan be your motivation to remain conscious, rest assured I will usethem if necessary.”