Page 11 of Almost a Countess

Finn shook his head. He stared at thepretty Englishwoman. She was terribly young. He couldn’t expect awell-brought up young Englishwoman to even know of the Dress Act orhow it rankled the souls of every Scotsman.

“I dinna think ye noticedthat when we met, Miss Harper.” He chuckled when she blushed, hercheeks reddening to the hue of ripe cherries.

“I’m sure I didn’t noticeanything about your kilt, my lord.” She settled back in herchair, but Finn caught her surreptitiously feeling her brightcheeks.

“Well, if ye dinna, theBritish Army did.”

“Whyever would they beinterested in your clothing?” She looked at him as though he were alunatic.

“The Dress Act, whichprohibits all Scottish men and boys from wearing kilts orplaids—tartan clothing, that is. Disobey the law, ye’re clapped inprison for six months. Dae it a second time, and the punishment istransportation tae the colonies for seven years.”

Miss Harper’s lips were pressedtogether in a thin line. “That seems overly severe.”

Finn stared into her beautiful,innocent eyes. “I see ye’ve no idea o’ the depth o’ hatred theBritish hold for Scotland and the Scots.”

“But you said your fatherdied fighting for England.” A puzzled frown deepened the lines ofher brow.

“And he wisna the onlyone. However, the British cared naught for such loyalty. The DressAct stands tae this day. The only men allowed tae wear it are thosewho have sworn an oath o’ loyalty and joined special Highlandcompanies.” He let his eyes twinkle at her. “I’m no’ a member o’any o’ those regiments.” Finn gazed over Miss Harper’s shoulder,out the window, seeing something quite different from the patch ofgarden still touched by the afternoon light. “My father was, and hedied for king and country. That should have beenenough.”

“Yes, it should have been,Lord Aberfoyle.” The words were spoken without malice. Quite to thecontrary, they had conviction, and in her face, he found a trace ofguilt. “But how did the soldiers know you’d be wearing the illegalgarment?”

“That, Miss Harper, is thevery question. I’d told no one, no’ even my sister, I’d be wearingit sae I could surprise her.” He clutched the coverlet in bothhands. “Cormack, Mary’s groom, had apparently been gaming with somesoldiers from Edinburgh Castle no’ long before and mentioned he’dbe getting married. For some reason, a lieutenant asked tae beinvited and I suppose Cormack dinna want tae offend the officer,and sae issued an invitation tae the ceremony and the breakfastafter.” Christ, why had Cormack done such a fool thing? “That wouldhave been bad enough, but the daft gomerel dinna think tae tell methey’d be attending.”

“Dear Lord.” Miss Harper’shand flew to her mouth.

“Needless tae say, I’dhave worn something quite different had I known. However…” Theofficer had gotten a nasty shock to be sure. “I’ve never seen blooddrain from a face sae quickly as it did from the lieutenant when hesaw me coming down the aisle, my sister on my arm. O’ course, myface was likely as white when I caught sight of him.” He’d almoststopped in his tracks when he’d seen the bright red coats in thekirk. Still, he’d tried to carry on. His sister’s wedding couldn’tbe marred by his own folly.

“What happened then?” MissHarper had leaned toward him, hanging on his every word.

“He stopped the wedding byarresting me on the spot.” Finn shook his head. “I dinna ken taethis day whether Mary and Cormack are wed or no’.”

Not unexpectedly, Miss Harper’s eyeshad widened until they seemed all blue. “I cannot understand whythe lieutenant couldn’t make an exception for such an occasion. Youweren’t parading about in the public square oranything.”

“Nae, nothing sae blatant,but the kirk is a public place and that was enough for Scarlet.Believe me, I tried tae persuade him, as did Cormack.” Finn’s mouthhardened. “He wisna inclined tae be lenient.”

“Not even when he knew youwere Lord Aberfoyle?”

Finn shrugged. “I broke the law. Mystatus disna keep me from being charged in criminal matters,although from what I’ve gathered no’ all soldiers take the chargeas seriously as Lieutenant Scarlet.”

“Do you know why hedid?”

“I dinna at first. Afterdragging me from the kirk, Scarlet tapped me with the butt o’ hispistol,” Finn pointed to the gash on his forehead, “and I kennednaught until later that night when I learned the reason for hisgreat animosity tae me.” Finn picked up his cup. The tea was stonecold, but he drained it anyway. “His father had been killed at theBattle o’ Culloden, a little more than six months after mine. Itried tae make him see that those circumstances should call forleniency, since both men had been fighting for the same side.” Finnshook his head and set the cup down. “He just laughed and said Iwas still a Scot and if I was wearing a kilt, he could guess taewhich side my family actually gave their allegiance. Sae I deservednae consideration o’ any kind.”

“I’m so sorry, my lord.”Miss Harper took his hand, which startled Finn to no end. Then shegave it a gentle squeeze. “He must have felt his father’s deathkeenly.”

“As did I, I assure ye,Miss Harper.” He withdrew his hand and stared at her, angerflooding his chest. Much as he hated to sound harsh, thisEnglishwoman couldn’t possibly understand how galling it was forFinn that his father had died fighting for a cause he didn’tbelieve in, against men with whom he actuallysympathized.

The shocked look on Miss Harper’s facesent a sliver of guilt through Finn. She might be English, butshe’d been kind to him when she might easily have left him in theburn, easy prey for Scarlet.

The woman quickly tucked her hand intoher lap and cast her gaze down at the coverlet. Silence encompassedthem, save for the ticking of the clock.

Finn fought for some other topic, buteverything he could think of seemed either rude orbanal.

Finally, Miss Harper managed to lookat him. “Why didn’t you go with the soldiers and plead your case tothe authorities? Surely they would have been lenient with you underthe circumstances.”

Finn shook his head. The lass mighthave spirit, but she knew little about the way of the world. Atleast for the Scots. “The troop was stationed at Edinburgh Castle,only a day’s ride from Aberfoyle, where the garrison was to becommanded by a person o’ some status, which could mean a reward forturning in a traitor.”

“A traitor?” His hostesspaled. “Surely they could not charge you with treason. You brokethe… What act was it?”