Page 63 of Almost a Countess

“Just like that.” Hisuncle offered his arm to the duchess. “Would ye join me atbreakfast, Duchess?”

“With pleasure, my lord.”The duchess took his uncle’s arm, gazing up at him with a curioussmile on her lips. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Uncle Abernethy’s gaze swept over Finnand Dora, still standing flummoxed. “If ye would like tae ken howye sae narrowly escaped arrest, Aberfoyle, ye and Miss Harper mayaccompany us.” Not waiting for anyone else to accept hisinvitation, Uncle Abernethy strode quickly into the inn.

“He’s rather a force to bereckoned with, isn’t he?” Dora’s tone was reverential as she tookFinn’s arm.

“Ye dinna know the half o’it, my love. But come, I wish tae hear Uncle’s tale for myself.I’ve nae idea how he managed tae dispatch Scarlet.” He sighed andstarted them toward the inn. “I’m only glad he has donesae.”

Chapter 26

The morning had just begun and alreadyDora’s heart had been twisted this way and that as though a laundrywoman had wrung it out on washing day. To see Finn fighting theodious Lieutenant Scarlet, see him almost shot—she’d believed shewould die of fright when the lieutenant had raised his pistol atFinn—and then miraculously saved by the uncle he’d been trying tofind, was simply too much for her to comprehend. She clung toFinn’s arm, never wanting to let him go again.

They entered the inn just behind hisuncle, a most imposing gentleman, and her aunt, Dora still clingingto Finn. “How did your uncle find you? And at the exact opportunemoment? How can you tell me it’s not a miracle?”

“Och, I can completelybelieve in an angel sending a miracle tae save me from Scarlet. Ieven thought it would take the form o’ Uncle Abernethy, but throughthe courts, mind ye, no’ with a blazing pistol.” He patted her armand led her back toward her and her aunt’s room.

When they entered, the old breakfastthings had been whisked away, the room tidied, and a new table laidwith fresh, hot food.

Dora took off her shawl and gloves andsat in her accustomed place at the table. She couldn’t decidewhether she was ravenous or too distraught to eat a thing. Finn satto her right, Lord Abernethy to the left, and Aunt Mimi across fromher.

“I instructed Mr. Perry toserve breakfast once more. If you have eaten your fill already, youmay have tea and toast to keep up your end of the table.” Aunt Mimiremoved her gloves and laid them in her lap. “Now, my lord,” sheturned eagerly to Lord Abernethy, “what’s the news? Why did thatlieutenant run out of here with his tail between hislegs?”

“Perhaps we should allowLord Abernethy a chance to eat his breakfast, aunt.” Dora was dyingto know as well, but one should not be so pointed or insistent whensomeone was going out of their way to accommodate you.

“I can talk just as wellwaiting for my breakfast.” His lordship gazed around at them untilhe landed on Finn. “I’m certain ye have a question or two for me,nephew.”

“Indeed I dae, uncle.”Finn leaned forward, as though he wanted to jump out of the chair.“First, how did ye come tae be here, at this inn, at the precisetime tae shoot the pistol out o’ Scarlet’s hand. It seems like morethan a coincidence.”

“No’ a coincidenceexactly, lad.” His uncle smiled. “I left London three days agoafter receiving a letter from Lord Trevor, who I believe yeken.”

“Tris!” Dora sat up,entranced. She might have known Tris would have a hand in theirrescue.

“Trevor? Trevor sent ye aletter?” Finn cocked his head, the puzzled look on his facesomewhere between confusion and resentment.

“Yes, he told me o’ yerscheme tae go tae London in the duchess’s carriage, disguised as awoman. A brilliant idea, by the way.” Abernethy shook his head. “Byrights, Scarlet shouldna have found ye. Shouldna have been lookingfor three women traveling together.”

“He was tipped off, mylord.” Dora wanted to confess that bit since her aunt’s carriagewas partly responsible for their discovery. “A groom at the innwhere we spent the night before last told him about our nextdestination and the disguise.”

“Pity there’s nae crime inbeing disloyal. Wouldna have happened in my day.”

“Mine either, my lord.”Aunt Mimi had been taking in all the interactions, biding her time.“Nothing is as it was half a century ago.”

Impatience flaring, Finn broke in.“Sae Trevor wrote giving ye the locations where we planned tae stopalong the way?”

“He did. Else I wouldstill be in my townhouse in London. Trevor’s the reason I set outtae find ye and not just wait for ye tae arrive, as yer lettersuggested, Aberfoyle.” Lord Abernethy sat straighter when the dooropened and breakfast arrived. “I suppose Trevor is responsible forsaving yer life. Otherwise, I’d no’ have been tae hand tae rein inthat idiot.”

“I still say it’s amiracle ye arrived in the nick tae shoot his hand.” Finn grabbedDora’s hand under the table and squeezed. “Another second, and he’dhave shot me in the chest.”

“Oh, it wasn’t left up taemuch chance, nephew. I arrived just after ye began the fight.” LordAbernethy sipped his tea, looking for the world as though he werediscussing gardening with his nephew.

“Even sae, uncle, I couldfeel the icy claw o’ death close around me.”

“Nonsense. Ye were rattledbecause Miss Harper was watching.” His lordship put down his cupand nodded to Finn. “One holds life dearer when one has found thepurpose for it. Life becomes more precious because o’ the ones wedinna want tae leave behind.”

Finn looked at Dora with dark, liquideyes. “I agree, uncle.”

“But here, tell meeverything from the beginning. Sae convoluted a tale I need taehear from the start, in the correct order sae tae make sense o’it.”