Page 46 of Almost a Countess

“You do not know him as Ido, my love. He will go to any lengths to best whoever tries tousurp his power.” He nodded at Finn and Dora. “They have justsealed their fate to never be married, unless they wait until Dorareaches her majority. If you can fend your father off for two moreyears.”

“If Lord Downing willnasee reason,” Finn walked back to the sofa and slipped his armaround Dora’s shoulders, the feeling warm and secure, “then we willmake our lie the truth. After I resolve the issue o’ my arrest, Iwill return here with my uncle, and Dora and I will journey taeAberfoyle and marry in Scotland.”

“Who is this uncle of whomyou speak, Aberfoyle?” Tris emptied his glass. “You conjure him upso frequently, as you would a talisman, I begin to wonder if he isreal as well.”

“Och, he is as real as yeor I, Trevor. The Marquess of Abernethy.” Finn pronounced the nameas though it were sacred. “My mother’s brother and a very powerfulman in Scotland.”

Tris nodded and looked morerespectfully at Finn. “I’ve met him. A shrewd man and a goodorator. Very canny in the Lords. You certainly have excellentconnections if Abernethy’s your uncle.” He stood, stroking hischin. “I’m not certain that his name might not pique Lord Downing’sinterest. The better connected you are, the more likely Downingwill see a way to exploit it. And therefore allow yourmarriage.”

“Then we should set outtomorrow at first light, Finn,” Dora spoke up. The sooner theyfound Lord Abernethy, the sooner these uncertainties would beresolved. They had to get Finn’s name cleared before anything elsecould happen.

“What do you mean ‘we’?”Finn and Tris said together.

“I shall accompany Finn toLondon in my carriage, posing as his wife. Then, as soon as we findhis uncle and have his name cleared, we can—”

“Go no further, Dora.”Tris looked as though any patience he may have possessed hadevaporated long ago. “You will not compromise yourself irrevocablyby posing as Aberfoyle’s wife. By the slimmest of chances, you haveescaped censure here. Once you leave this house, you will besubjected to the scrutiny of all manner of people, who will ruinyou with one well-placed on-dit in London. It cannothappen.”

“I believe Trevor speaksthe truth, my love.” Finn took her hand. “For the self-same reason.Yer reputation will be in shambles, and ye will never recover fromit. I will return for ye, leannan. I swear it.” He strokedher cheek, his touch light as a butterfly’s. “I swear it on mylife.”

“No.” Dora glared first atTris then at Finn. They were not going to browbeat her intosubmission. She’d made her plan, and now she would stick to it.“Violet and I were discussing this very plan when we wereinterrupted by Aunt Mimi. I declare I will not be parted from Finn.To that end, we will journey to London together as man and wife.Scarlet and his men will not be looking for a carriage, especiallyone with a man and a woman in it. It will be the best way to throwthem off Finn’s trail.” She looked at them defiantly. “Unless youhave a better plan.”

“I think you may need toalter your plan, Dora.” Violet, who had been silent all thistime, spoke quietly from the sofa. “You must see that your aunt’spresence changes things.”

Of course, Aunt Mimi’s arrival wouldmake their immediate departure most peculiar. She couldn’t abandonher aunt at the estate, but neither would she agree to remainbehind. There must be some way for her and Finn to travel togetherwithout raising her aunt’s suspicions. “What if we waited a fewmore days then traveled to London with my aunt?” This scheme hadpossibilities. Dora’s mood brightened. “We simply say that Finn hasbusiness in London, and we can travel together, Aunt Mimi in hercarriage and us in mine.”

“Out of the question.”Tris’s words sounded before she’d gotten her last wordout.

“And why not, grumpygoose?” His gainsaying any idea she came up with had gotten morethan tiresome.

“Because if you are posingas husband and wife, you will be expected to share a single room.”Crossing his arms over his chest, Tris looked more forbidding thanever. “Dora’s reputation will be in absolute tatters.”

Dora turned to Finn, her heartsuddenly racing. Ever since their kiss, she’d allowed herself onceor twice to think about what it might be like to be married toFinn.

Her faux husband, however, glancedaway from her gaze. “Is something wrong?” she whispered.

“Aye,” he growled back,“but no’ with ye.”

“What?”

Finn merely shook his head and shiftedhis stance.

Dragging her attention back toTristan, Dora continued her argument. “I do not see a problem,Tris. Once Finn’s business is sorted out, if we can be married asquickly as possible, will it truly matter? I cannot imagine thatyou and Violet waited until the minister pronounced you man andwife.”

“Dora!” Violetgasped.

“That was uncalled for,Dora.” Tris tried to scowl, but the effect was spoiled by hispink-tinged cheeks.

“Yet you do not deny it,Tris.” Dora didn’t mean to embarrass her friends, but why wouldthey hold her and Finn to a different standard?

“Even if it were true, itis still beside the point. I cannot condone such behavior.” Herformer fiancé was taking his role as protector to extremes, whichwas sweet but very inconvenient at the moment.

“I have a suggestion thatmay suit everyone.” Violet’s tone was more forceful this time. Herbrows had come down in a delicate frown that made her lookuncommonly fierce. “Tell the duchess the truth, Dora.”

“What?” Dora exchangedglances with Finn, who looked equally startled. “Why?”

“So that Dora canaccompany Finn to London.”

Finn cocked his head, as thoughconsidering her words. “How does that help thesituation?”