Page 30 of Almost a Countess

“Honestly, I have no’thought about that.” Finn sat back and sipped his tea. He truly hadbeen so involved in escaping Scarlet he’d had no time to thinkabout what, if any, retribution he would seek when he was no longera wanted man. “Even if I understand his motives, he’d nae right taebeat me, nor threaten me with dire bodily harm, just because I worethe kilt. I am a peer o’ the realm and should no’ have been treatedthis way. I ken he should pay for that misdeed, but I have nae ideawhat might be appropriate.” Finn shrugged. The last thing he wishedto think about, when sitting across the table from a lovely lady,was Lieutenant Scarlet. “I will consult with my uncle when I gettae London. He may have an idea o’ what punishment the lieutenantdeserves for that indignity.”

“You are a man ofrestraint, my lord.” Dora smiled at him, sending warmth throughhim. “That speaks well of your character. Perhaps your unclewould have a better knowledge of possible disciplinaryactions that could be brought against Lieutenant Scarlet.” To hisconsternation, she met his gaze and held it. “With regards to youruncle, I was wondering if it might be easier and more prudent towrite to him from here and explain your predicament. You could askhim to either come and transport you to London, or to undertake toresolve the issue in London and send word to you when it has beensettled.”

Finn set his teacup down, suddenlyuncertain what she was suggesting. “It would certainly be a boonno’ tae have t’ travel t’ London with an injured ankle, but Iwillna ken if my uncle needs me there until he tells mesae.”

“But that could be viacorrespondence as well as in his presence, couldn’t it?” Her eyesbeseeched him. “Then you could remain at Bromley and continue toconvalesce here until you hear from your uncle. Wouldn’t that bethe better plan, Finn?”

“’Tis a very generousoffer, Dora.” It had, in fact, caught Finn completely bysurprise.

He’d have thought she’d wish to be ridof him immediately and try to forget all the trouble he’d causedher. Instead, she wished him to remain here with her. A few reasonsshe might have done this came to mind immediately. One was simpleChristian charity, but Dora had shown no overt religious tendenciesaround him so far. The other, which he quite wished to believe, wasthat she was coming to enjoy his company. Perhaps even be fond ofhim.

His throat dried when he consideredthat possibility. The woman was self-assured, quick-witted, and adamn fine strategist. She’d put together the campaign againstLieutenant Scarlet quickly and efficiently and executed it withoutflaw. And she was very comely into the bargain. If he took her upon her proposal, he’d be much safer than if he were back out on theroad, subject to the elements and Scarlet’s men. True, harboringhim could bring down the considerable wrath of Scarlet, but thelieutenant had no reason to search the house again. And if hestayed, he’d have the opportunity to become better acquainted withDora, something he longed to do. What he’d already learned abouther had him fascinated. Just think what else he might uncover?Still, he should be cautious. “Sae generous I have tae wonder whyye’re making it.”

She blinked, her eyes widening.“What…what do you mean?”

“Ye’ve been more than kindtae rescue me from the burn. Ye’ve taken me intae yer home, fed andclothed me even though I have nae claim on ye. Why would ye wishtae extend that hospitality tae a total stranger?”

Her cheeks turned a most becomingshade of red, and she tossed her napkin on the table and rose,bringing him to his feet. “I was always taught to be charitable tothose in need. When I discovered you, Finn, you were just that—inneed of rescue. You are in somewhat better circumstances now,however, I believe you still require succor.” She made a littlegesture with her hands, part shrug, part entreaty. “I simply wishto help you.” Her gaze met his with an intense longing that struckhim to his soul. “You have kind eyes.”

“Kind eyes?”

She nodded then disappeared throughthe doorway in a blur of bright fabric.

Dropping back down into his chair,Finn stared at the empty seat across from him, still seeing Dora’sbeautiful face as it had been only moments ago. The world had justtilted on its axis. The longing he’d seen in her eyes—had it beenfor him?

****

With hands shaking so hard she had togrip her skirts to still them, Dora ran down the corridor, notknowing where she was going, just that she must get away from Finn.She’d revealed too much in those final moments before she’d escapedthe room. She needed to find a quiet place to calm herself anddecide how much Finn might have guessed about her.

The library was always deserted. Shedarted in and closed the door, panting with exertion andfear.

Why had she looked at him likethat?

She paced the perimeter of thelibrary, past the neat shelves of dusty books in an attempt tosoothe herself and contemplate what to do next. She likely couldn’tdo either. The excitement of the morning, of deceiving LieutenantScarlet, and laughing about it afterward, had created a bond ofsorts between her and Finn, the kind shared when one goes throughan ordeal and comes out the other side unscathed.

That was how she and Judith had becomefriends. Violet as well. Those acquaintanceships had blossomed intotrue friendships. And while the encounter with the lieutenantseemed to have brought her closer to Finn, what she wanted fromhim, she’d realized at breakfast, was something more.

After visiting Violet and Tris, she’dcome to the reluctant realization that she was more than ready forthe kind of intimacy her friends shared. Seeing their perfecthappiness had made her wish with all her heart for a husband andchildren. A family of her own. The camaraderie that had developedbetween her and Finn in the brief time they’d shared made her longto deepen it.

Dora’s pacing slowed, and she droppedinto the tall leather chair behind the library table.

She hadn’t had any intention of likingthe rough-looking Scotsman she’d fished out of the stream daybefore yesterday. He’d been rude and more than a bit of trouble forher. Just look at his actions yesterday, disobeying her orders,riding out where she’d told him not to go, and then running intothe soldiers and almost being caught again. Or shot. Dora grippedthe chair arms, thinking how close he’d come to being killed. Awilder and more undisciplined man she’d never met. She should haveturned him out of the house for his insolence.

But she could no more have done thatthan she could swim to China. When he’d told her about the crueltyhe’d suffered because of his arrest, even when she didn’t quitebelieve it all, something about him had tugged at her heart. Hisgallant gesture of offering to help her up onto Gretchen and escapewhile he stayed behind, possibly to face the soldiers alone, spokemore eloquently about him than anything he’d said. Surprisingly,he’d offered her solace when she’d told him about her situationwith Tris and her reputation when many would simply have shunnedher.

And he did have very kindeyes.

These might not be the qualities ayoung woman was supposed to look for when selecting a husband, butthey were enough for her. She was so tired of being alone. Shewanted someone to love—someone who would love her. And she’dthought, if only for a moment at breakfast, that he could love her.If only her qualities could be enough for him.

It was foolish, given hercircumstances, to think Finn, or any gentleman, would look on herwith affection or desire, yet the hope for this wouldn’t die. Ofcourse, Tris had never thought of her that way. After he marriedViolet, he acted toward Dora as an elder brother would: protective.Never as a lover. Now, strange as it might seem given they buttedheads so often, she wished with all her might that Finn would seeher as pleasing, a woman who could be an eligible match for him.The question was, would he see only her sullied reputation and notwho she really was? She’d known well the consequences of breakingher betrothal, and yet she could have done nothingdifferent.

Dora laid her head down on thepolished teak table, its smooth surface cool beneath her cheek.What must she do? She’d offered Finn sanctuary here at Bromley bothto give him succor and respite from Lieutenant Scarlet’s pursuit,but also to gain time for them to get to know each other better.They were not in the usual social circumstances where they couldmeet at entertainments and balls and pursue a courtship the normalway. But if he stayed here, they could talk and dine together for afew days at least. Out of that, something substantial mightgrow.

With Violet and Tris here inYorkshire, she could, perhaps, meet other eligible gentlemen whomight suit her. Could have done, that was, had Finn not appeared inher life.

Now what she really wished to do waswait and see if Finn’s regard for her deepened. Something insideher, a voice she yearned to listen to, said she should give herbudding friendship with Finn the opportunity to grow into more.Especially as she had developed this sudden tendre for theScotsman. One could not force the heart where it did not wish togo. If his wished to go elsewhere, however, then she wouldhave to accept that and move on as well.

That he’d not immediately agreed tostay had somewhat dashed her hopes, but there was still a chance hewould choose to remain simply to continue recuperating until he waswell enough to go to his uncle. Until then, with him close to her,she had a chance to win his affection, didn’t she? If only she knewwhat to do next. Why had her older sisters or her mother neverexplained how to encourage a man’s attentions?