Page 57 of Almost a Countess

The innkeeper hurried forward and laida napkin over the man’s open fall.

“Now, Aberfoyle.” Theduchess rapped her stick on the floor sharply. “Explain thisbizarre tableau, please.”

The lieutenant squirmed, and Finnpressed the knife more firmly to Scarlet’s neck. The man yelped andtried to struggle, drawing a single drop of blood. “A momentplease, Duchess.” He bent down to Scarlet’s ear. “Be on yer bestbehavior, lieutenant,” he whispered. “Ye wouldn’t want my hand taeslip because ye tried tae move. I’d have sae many witnesses that yecut yer throat yerself.”

“Unhand me, damnit,Aberfoyle.”

“Sae ye can attack myfiancée and try tae kill me again? When pigs fly wi’ their tailsforward, lieutenant.” Finn grinned at him. “I’ll be happy tae sharethis bed with ye for a while. At least until a superior officer canbe summoned tae hear the truth o’ the matter.” He tightened hishold on the officer. “Since I recall yer commanding officer is upin Edinburgh, we will have tae settle for someone closer.Innkeeper.”

“Yes, my lady…uh, mylord?” The tall, thin man Finn had met when they arrived steppedforward, eyes wide as if in a trance. Mr. Perry likely didn’tdiscover soldiers being held at knife point in his rooms everyday.

“Is there a militarybarracks nearby? I’m in need o’ a major or lieutenant-colonel,although I suppose a lowly captain would dae as a superior officertae the lieutenant here. Lieutenant Scarlet has been a wee bit o’ abad’un, it seems.”

“Gates, do something.”Scarlet twisted in Finn’s hands so vigorously it was hard not tocut him.

The only soldier left standing, Gateslooked from Scarlet, to the fallen Hopkins, to the injured man inthe corner and shook his head. “I don’t rightly know what to do,lieutenant.”

“Take your pistol andshoot this mad dog.” Scarlet continued to struggle in Finn’s arms.“Don’t aim to kill, just wound him in the arm so I can get free ofhim.”

Scarlet was surely deranged,suggesting a shot so close to his own head. At some point in hispursuit of Finn, he’d apparently become completelyunhinged.

“Shoot, damnit.”

Hesitantly, Gates raised hispistol.

“Young man, I suggest youlower that pistol if you know what is good for you.” The duchessstepped forward and poked Gates in the stomach with her walkingstick, knocking him backward. “You will neither shoot mynephew-to-be, nor anyone else on the authority of a man who isclearly mad.”

Gates stared first at Scarlet then atthe imposing woman. “Are you really a duchess, ma’am?”

“I am indeed. The Duchessof Ostroda.” She pierced him with a steely gaze Finn wouldn’t havewanted to meet on a dark night. “I have more political connectionsthan you can count, young man. You’d best do as I say or face theconsequences.” She then turned to Lieutenant Scarlet. “You too,villain.”

The duchess stalked forward, each steppunctuated by the click of her stick, until she stood at the end ofthe bed, directly in front of Scarlet. “I do not know why you arepersecuting Lord Aberfoyle, but you will cease your harassment ofhim immediately or you will be made to pay.” She leaned forward andshook her stick in the lieutenant’s face. “Don’t make the mistakeof thinking I won’t do it.”

Finn couldn’t have loved the duchessany more than he did at that moment. The look of astonishment onGates’s face was priceless. He only wished he could seeScarlet’s.

Seeming to disregard the duchess’sdire warning, Scarlet squirmed again and called out,“Innkeeper!”

Dutifully, Mr. Perry stepped forwardagain. “Yes, sir?”

“I am Lieutenant GeoffreyScarlet of Lord Lucas’s 34th Regiment of Foot, stationed atEdinburgh Castle. Lord Aberfoyle here broke the law of the land,and I am bound by my oath to the Crown to take him to my garrisonin Edinburgh to be charged.” Scarlet’s subdued tones might wellinspire confidence in his statement from a man such as Perry. “Letme and my men take Aberfoyle in. I swear, we are bound forEdinburgh to question him.”

“If that’s all ye weretrying tae dae, Scarlet, why is yer man unconscious on the floorwith his privates exposed?” Every time Finn thought about what theyhad tried to do to Dora, he wanted to sink the knife into Scarlet’sbared throat and revel in the man’s demise. He pressed the knife abit harder. If the man swallowed, he’d cut his ownthroat.

“Yes, lieutenant,” theduchess had pushed past Mr. Perry to stand before Scarlet oncemore. “Explain just what that unfortunate young man was attemptingto do to my niece?”

“It was a bluff only,madam.” Scarlet must have felt the blade bite for he pressed hishead back on Finn’s chest. “We were trying to frighten Aberfoyleinto going with us without a fight. Wanted to avoid something likethis.”

“That might have the ringo’ truth, Scarlet, except at the time Miss Harper entered the roomI was already tied up and gagged. There was nae question I wasgoing with ye. And quietly.” The knife trembled with the tension inFinn’s hand. He wanted to kill the bastard so badly he couldn’tthink of anything else.

“Lord Aberfoyle?” Mr.Perry had come forward and was peering at him. “Are thelieutenant’s charges true? Did you break a law?”

“Aye, I did.” Finn noddedto the innkeeper. “But the offense was slight compared tae what thelieutenant wishes tae charge me with.”

“It was an act of treason,Aberfoyle, pure and simple.” Scarlet wiggled so frantically Finnhad to loosen his hold on the man. Quick as a snake strike, thelieutenant flung himself off the bed and his sword rang free of thescabbard. “We will take the prisoner to Edinburgh at firstlight.”

“I’d no’ go across thestreet tae a pub with ye, Scarlet.” Finn rolled to the oppositeside of the bed, keeping his distance from Scarlet, and began tountie the rope around his legs. “Much less make a week’s longjourney. Find the nearest garrison and put the matter before itscommander.”

“Aye, my lord, there’s oneover in Nottingham, not a half a day’s ride.” Mr. Perry pointedtoward the far wall. “The 15th Dragoons is stationed there. MajorCollins is in command.”