Page 53 of Almost a Countess

“We ar’na wed, Dora. Yehave only the promise of my name, no’ the protection o’ it. If Idie before we marry, ye’ll be a ruint woman, yer family will disownye, and ye’ll be left alone wi’ nothing, tae raise my bairn as bestye can.” He turned a sorrowful gaze on her. “I dinna want that forye or our child. Dae ye?”

Blinking back tears, Dora shook herhead. Much as she wanted to argue with him, there was no argument.“No, of course not.”

“Then let us return taethe inn, mo gradh. And I’ll make ye another promise.” Hegently kissed her forehead. “We’ll have a grand wedding night—butafter the wedding.”

Disappointed, Dora followed Finn asthey threaded their way back through the trees.

Darkness had descended while theyconversed beneath the leafy woods, but the lights shining throughthe kitchen window acted as a beacon, showing them the way back tothe inn—and to their separate rooms.

Chapter 21

The journey to Grantham, where theyexpected to spend the second night, was indeed long, made even moreso by the keen looks Aunt Mimi sent them regularly, whenever theconversation in the carriage lagged. Of course, she and Finn wereinnocent of any wrongdoing, but her aunt obviously did not thinkso. Unfortunately, they could hardly protest their innocence untilshe accused them of something. It was altogether a very confusingand tense day of travel. And as Aunt Mimi merely continued to glareat them, Dora was exceedingly thankful when, sometime after noon,they swept into the yard of a coaching inn—the Olde White Hart inNewark-on-Trent—and disembarked. Never had she been so sick ofcommenting on the weather in her life. Now, at least, they couldpraise or complain about the food when they returned to theirjourney.

The meal went smoothly, the foodactually well-cooked and presented in their private parlor. Doraand her aunt freshened up then left the room to allow Finn to dothe same. They walked out to the coachyard, where Aunt Mimi’scoachman had the carriage ready for them.

“Shouldn’t we wait herefor Mrs. Devereaux, aunt?” Dora peered back into the inn, lookingfor Finn.

“Yes, Dora, I should saywe must.” Aunt Mimi grasped her arm tightly, bringing Dora’sattention to her aunt’s face, now with an uncharacteristic smilepasted on it.

“What is wro—Ouch.”

Squeezing her arm tighter stoppedDora’s words as Aunt Mimi nodded slightly toward thecourtyard.

A bolt of fear shot through Dora, butshe managed to turn her head naturally toward thecarriage.

A troop of seven soldiers, their redcoats bright in the afternoon sun, stood milling around thecoachyard.

Dear God. Dora would have staggeredhad Aunt Mimi not pinched the arm she held in a vise-grip. Theextra nip of pain cleared Dora’s head and set her to thinking howbest to warn Finn of the soldiers’ presence without attracting anyundue attention to him. She looked Aunt Mimi in the eyes. “Let mego see what is keeping dear Mrs. Devereaux, aunt. You stay herewhile I fetch her.”

Aunt Mimi nodded, apparently pleasedwith Dora’s response. If only she didn’t start to shake like a treein high wind. She turned back toward the inn and hurried into thetaproom, just as Finn was about to emerge.

“I truly dinna know how yeladies manage these skirts—” Finn stopped, a frown quicklyreplacing his sunny smile. “Dora, ye look as though ye’ve seen aghost. What has happened?”

“There you are, Mrs.Devereaux.” She raised the pitch of her voice to a squeaky whine.“We wondered where you had gotten to.” Laughing, Dora took Finn’sarm and leaned into him. “Soldiers in the yard,” she whispered thencontinued to laugh.

A split second of panic in Finn’s facegave way to smiles and his laughter joined hers. “I couldna seemtae find my shawl, my dear. It had slipped under the table, and Ihad the worst time locating it.” He dropped his voice low. “Howmany? Is it Scarlet?”

“Well, I’m glad youfinally found it. It is too pretty to lose.” The patrons wouldthink them totally mad, but she cared not a jot. “Seven. I didn’tsee him, but he didn’t have that many with him. I pray it is adifferent troop.”

“Quite likely. And sae,”Finn straightened his wig with the little lacy cap pinned to it,“yer aunt’s subterfuge may be my saving grace at that. Come along.We have tae act as naturally as possible.”

They joined Aunt Mimi, still standingjust outside the inn door, surveying the chaos as though she were ageneral taking stock of a battleground. “Come along, Dora, Mrs.Devereaux. Tempus fugit.” She started toward the carriage,picking her way over the dusty ground. “We have miles to journeyyet today.”

Dora and Finn fell in behind her,still giggling, leaning on one another, which helped mask Finn’sheight. They entered the carriage and settled quickly. Aunt Mimirapped on the trap. “Drive on, Upton.”

Finn sat well back in his seat, hishead bowed so all that could be seen was his gray wig and cap. Hefussed with the shawl, which also helped hide him from anyoneinterested in the occupants of the carriage.

Aware that she was known to LieutenantScarlet and his men, Dora turned to her aunt. “Aunt Mimi, can youlook at the soldiers as we drive past them? Tell me if there is onewho seems to be in command who is tall and blond? He’s alieutenant, if you know what that uniform looks like.”

“His coat is a brightershade o’ red, almost scarlet,” Finn whispered, “with a gorget, ametal plate around his neck.”

The carriage turned in the wide yard,flashing by the group of soldiers.

“I see one gentleman witha metal medallion of some sort around his neck,” Aunt Mimireported, “but he has dark hair.” She peered out the window as thecarriage left the yard. “I saw no one else who might have been theman you’re looking for. All the others’ uniforms were much plainerthan the brunette’s.”

“It must be anotherpatrol, Finn.” Dora heaved a sigh of relief and sank back on theseat. Her shoulders were quite sore from the tension of the pastfew minutes.

“Which could mean they’vesent out additional troops tae look for me.” A glum look she’dnever seen on Finn’s face sent a pang of fear throughDora.