Page 27 of Almost a Countess

Dora took it and buried her face inthe sweet blooms to hide her pink cheeks. With everything they mustthink about this morning, he was terribly sweet to go to the timeand trouble to walk all the way down the driveway… “Wait.” Shepulled her face from the bouquet, her frown returning. “You wereout on the roadside this morning? When we were all but assured thatthe soldiers are coming here today? Are you mad? What if they hadcome upon you? You’d have been arrested and whisked off with themand we’d have been none the wiser.”

“Miss Harper, ye worry fornothing.” He smirked at her. “The wee gomerels would never be awakethat time o’ day, much less out and about. I was in nae more dangerthen than I am now.”

That remained to be seen. “Please putthese in water, Larkin.” Unceremoniously, Dora handed the bouquetto her maid. “And see that Lord Aberfoyle finds his way back to hischamber and is ready to play his part. He seems to have a habit ofstraying when it is most inconvenient.”

“Yes, miss.” Larkin tookthe flowers in both hands then eyed Finn. “This way, my lord,although I think you know the way.”

“Aye, I dae.” Shooting afinal grin at Dora, Finn went out the door, Larkin right behindhim.

Stamping her foot in frustration—whichdid no good at all for her soft slippers made no satisfying thumpon the thick carpet—Dora marched to the door and pushed it closedwith a sharp bang. Soothed somewhat, she returned to her dressingtable and sat, bewildered by the conflicting feelings LordAberfoyle seemed to always bring out in her.

His gesture with the flowers wasincredibly sweet and in other circumstances would have touched herdeeply. Had done so, in fact, until it became evident how foolhardyFinn had been in doing it. As he himself had said, he’d beenarrested for being a fool, so such behavior was apparently notunusual for the man. A dangerous flaw in his character in hispresent situation, and one she would not tolerate for long. Finn’sappeal had slipped several notches.

A knock on the door startled her outof her gloomy reverie. “Come.”

The door opened on Hanson. “MissHarper, a Lieutenant Scarlet and five soldiers are here. I have putthem in the front receiving room.”

Dora catapulted to her feet. “FindLarkin. Tell her to put on her white apron and go to the viscount’sapartment immediately. Then tell them I will be downdirectly.”

The butler hurried away, and Dora tookone final look in the mirror. She’d do for the role she needed toplay now. She grabbed up her cream shawl, embroidered withmulticolored flowers that complemented her deep turquoise printgown, and headed for Finn’s room.

At her knock, a muffled voice called,“Come in.”

The drapes had not been drawn, givingthe room a dim, dungeon-like quality, with no direct light. In themassive bed rested a white-clad figure, an old-fashioned nightcappulled down over his gray hair. Eyes closed, the figure lay back onthe pillows.

“Dora, Dora? You’veforgotten m’ breakfast, daughter.” His voice was high and squeaky,for all the world like an elderly gentleman. Not a hint of hisScottish accent. “Dora?” Finn opened one eye. “Was that convincingenough?” he said in his own voice.

“Lord.” He would be thedeath of her. “They are downstairs in the receiving room.” Hedidn’t seem frightened at all by what they were about to attempt.He’d better be serious about it, though. She had no idea her planwould work. “You have to behave like Mr. Harper, an elderlygentleman who is ill. We talked about this last night.”

“We did, but I thought Ishould try tae make the old man as true tae form as possible. I’mimpersonating my uncle, ye ken. His voice is high as anywoman’s.”

“Please, Finn. Larkinshould be here any minute. Just remember to cough and moan loudly,but not too often. I hope they don’t come in, but if they do…” Shetook in the old nightshirt that belonged to her father, thenightcap over one of Father’s wigs, and for a last touch, shepushed the chamber pot out from under the bed a trifle more. Ithadn’t been emptied from the night before, per her instructions.“If they do, I think they will believe you are myfather.”

“Then ye go play yer partand I shall take care o’ mine.” He gazed at her, confidence in hiseyes.

Straightening her shoulders, Doranodded and strode from the room. She couldn’t bear to think of whatwould happen should their little scheme go awry.

Entering the receiving room, shesmiled engagingly at the lieutenant, a taller man than she’dexpected, with dark blond hair and cold gray eyes that assessed heras quickly as she had him. “Lieutenant Scarlet?” She curtsied asprettily as she knew how. “My butler said you wished to see me?About the escaped prisoner, I suspect.”

“At your service, MissHarper.” Scarlet bowed, his lips in a tight line. “You have heardof our quest in the neighborhood then?”

“Yes, lieutenant. Fromseveral sources, including Lord Trevor. His wife and I are oldfriends, so when I visited her yesterday, he chanced to tell me ofyour call on them.” It was always best to carry the fight into theenemy’s court. “So you have not found the fugitive yet?”

“No, Miss Harper.” Thelieutenant nodded toward his men. “We’ve been searching for himaround here for the last four days and seen nothing of him. I beginto believe he’s received help from someone in the neighborhood.”The officer peered directly into her face in a blatant attempt tointimidate her. “Otherwise, how could he have avoided us solong?”

“How indeed, lieutenant.”Dora cocked her head, trying not to think of the lieutenant’scruelty to Finn. “Do you think perhaps he’s moved on to anotherplace? I’d think an escaped prisoner would want to run as fast andas far as possible to elude capture.”

“He may have done, MissHarper, but I deemed it necessary to scour the neighborhoodthoroughly to assure myself he has gone.” Scarlet nodded at her, aslight smile on his lips. “We know he’s now afoot instead of onhorseback. The horse he stole during his escape turned up justnorth of here. Somehow, the prisoner lost him, which slowed himdown. That is why I wanted to do a thorough search of everyproperty hereabouts.” He eyed Dora, and she braced herself for therequest that would come. “Including this one, MissHarper.”

“Of course, LieutenantScarlet. You may search the barn and outhouses. The only people onthe property are the servants, myself, and my father.” That hadcome out naturally, thank goodness.

“Your father, you say?”Scarlet paused, staring at her with narrowed eyes. “I was given tounderstand from some of the locals that your father was from home.If he is here, why has he not come down to meet with me instead ofsending his daughter?”

“Because he is ill and inbed, lieutenant. My servants have been nursing him for nigh on aweek.” Dora met the man’s gaze and stared him down. “I pray thatwhen your men search the house, they will do it quietly. My fatherneeds his rest.”

“Very good, Miss Harper.”He turned to the troops, who had been shifting from one leg to theother ever since she mentioned an illness. “Gates, Lawson, take theoutbuildings. Johnson, search outside around the house andgardens.” He nodded to two younger soldiers. “Parker and Henderson,you’ll search the house. Parker, the ground floor, Henderson, thefirst. I’ll take the second floor.”

“I will accompany you,lieutenant. I was going there before you were announced, as that iswhere my father’s room is.” She started to the door and turned intothe corridor.