Page 29 of Almost a Countess

“Oh, Papa,” Dorawhispered, her hand going to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I’ll havethe surgeon fetched at once. Stay with him please, Larkin.” Sherushed out of the room and shut the door. “Lieutenant Scarlet,please forgive me for not thinking to ask you sooner. You were notin the room very long, so I doubt you are in any danger. Here arethe other rooms.” She strode to first one then the other emptychambers and threw the doors open. “Please look quickly so I maysend for Mr. Cardrew.”

Face like last night’s thunderclouds,Scarlet made cursory searches of the two rooms then joined her inthe corridor. By that time, Dora had fished out her handkerchiefand was applying it to her eyes. “Are you done now, lieutenant?Then let us hurry.” With a sob, Dora rushed down the corridor tothe staircase. Not surprisingly, Scarlet kept pace withher.

When they arrived at the ground floor,Dora poked her head into the servant’s hall and called for Hanson,who appeared instantly. “Hanson, my father has taken a turn for theworse. Please send Alfred to fetch the surgeon. Tell him tohurry.”

“Very good, Miss Harper.”The butler nodded and disappeared back into the hall.

“I am so sorry, again,lieutenant, if I’ve caused you any worry.” She looked about. “Itruly do not think you are in any danger. Are your men assembledoutside? Probably the best thing, given the circumstances. Is thereanything else I can help you with?” She gave Scarlet her bestdistracted damsel-in-distress look, something she’d perfected withJudith’s help for dealing with her real father.

“No, Miss Harper. I willconfer with my men, but if they’d found anything suspicious, they’dhave come to me at once.” He bowed and stepped back. “Good day.”With a quick about-face, he whirled around and strode off the porchwith the speed of a horse put to the spurs.

He called out, “Mount,” sprang intohis saddle, and gathered the reins. The other men followed suit,and moments later, the troop was cantering down the drivewaywithout as much as a glance backward.

Hanson joined her on the steps. “ShallI tell Alfred not to go for Mr. Cardrew, Miss Harper?”

“No, he must go. IfLieutenant Scarlet is one wit suspicious, he may wait down the roadto see if Alfred actually does go for the man.” She wouldn’t putthat past the lieutenant. “When Mr. Cardrew arrives, he can examineLord Aberfoyle’s ankle and make certain it wasn’t further injuredlast evening.”

“Of course, Miss Harper.”Hanson turned to go then stopped. “If I may, miss, I think yourscheme was wonderful.”

“Thank you, Hanson.”Dora’s heart was filled with happiness, although she wouldn’t trulyknow joy until she was certain Scarlet had left the vicinity ofBromley for good. Still, she must go upstairs and share the goodnews with Finn.

She fairly flew up the steps then ran,her slippers pattering on the carpet, to the viscount’s apartments.Not stopping to knock, she opened the door to find Larkin stillpatting Finn’s face with the wet handkerchief.

Finn lay unmoving in the bed, herfather’s longest nightcap pulled over his head, down almost to hisnose so his eyes could not be seen. The gray curls of her father’swig were bunched around his face, hiding it further. From beneathall that disguise came a hacking sound as though he was coughing uphis insides.

“Finn? Are you all right?”Dora took a tentative step toward the bed. Had he been sick allalong with some lung disease she didn’t know about?

At the sound of her voice, he satstraight up in the bed, plucking both wig and nightcap from hishead and tossing them to the end of the bed. “Thank Christ! Thosethings felt like an inferno on top o’ my head.” He blinked at herand rubbed the spot, making all his hair stand on end. He lookedyounger and more boyish than ever when he asked, “Can we pleasehave breakfast noo?”

Chapter 12

“Please tell Mrs. McComberthese bannocks are a delight.” Finn finished the last of his secondone, amazed at the light, airy texture. The bannocks he had at homewere much denser, made of oatmeal by Mrs. MacNiven, who’d been hisfamily’s cook since before he was born. Maybe he could ask Mrs.McComber for the recipe to take back to Aberfoyle. Not that hethought his cook would use it, but it would be good to have, justin case.

“I’ll be sure to pass thatalong.” Sitting across from him, Dora, in her brightly embroideredgown, smiled and sipped her coffee.

A sight he could get used to eachmorning.

“Sae we think LieutenantScarlet was sae afraid o’ the smallpox he dinna look hard enough atmy arm tae notice it wisna an old man’s?”

Dora laughed, and the sound made himsmile. “I think he heard your coughing, took one look at all thered spots on your arm, and didn’t care to look any further.” Sheindustriously buttered a piece of toast. “How on earth did Larkinmanage to fill your arm with them so quickly?” She bit into thetoast with relish.

“Genius, I’d call it.”Finn began on the poached eggs, which he’d laid lovingly on twopieces of toast. “She took one o’ yer hair combs and dipped theteeth in yer rouge pot then applied it t’ my arm. She’d juststarted tae put some on my face when ye knocked on the door.” Theeggs were soft and creamy, so delicious he couldn’t eat themslowly. He supposed he was making up for the past week when he’dbeen nearly starving. At the thought of those hungry, uncomfortabledays, he took a huge forkful of ham and devoured it.

“My heart was in my throatthe whole time.”

“I couldna tell thata’tall. Ye sounded sae natural when ye asked the lieutenant if he’dhad the…”

“Variolation.” They saidthe word together, and Finn chuckled.

“I only wish you couldhave seen his face.” Dora shook her head, her eyes sparkling. “Itmust have turned two shades whiter. He looked like someone had putleeches on him.”

“Ugh.” Finn shuddered.“I’d no’ wish those nasty wee beasties on anyone.” He caught Dora’sgaze. “Well, perhaps, I’d make an exception for thelieutenant.”

“I don’t think I’d blameyou for that.” Dora’s gaze rested directly on his face. Perhapseven lingering on his lips? “Lieutenant Scarlet deserves whateverhe might get for his foul treatment of you.” Slowly, almostdeliberately, she put her cup back into its saucer. “But now wehave run that gauntlet successfully, what are yourplans?”

“The same as they havealways been. I must go tae London, find my uncle, and ask him taehelp me have these charges dismissed.” Another meal or two likethis one and he’d actually be ready to leave. Ready but noteager.

“Will you have LieutenantScarlet cashiered for his persecution of you?” Her voice wascompletely even, making it impossible to ascertain if she favoredthat idea or not.