Page 24 of Almost a Countess

“Yes, thank goodness.” Shedropped her napkin into her lap, not certain she wished to meet hisgaze. “I was fearful you’d drowned for good this time.”

“Och, there were otherdangers tae be considered.” He settled his napkin as James enteredwith the first course. “After that, a little rain was naught. May Ihave some wine, Hanson?”

“Of course, my lord.” Thebutler hurried forward clutching the bottle and poured.

“Thank ye.” Lord Aberfoyletook a long sip and sighed. “That was quite necessary.”

“You said you would tellme about your adventures.” She glanced at him and caught the ruefulset to his lips. She returned her attention to her plate as shehelped herself to roast beef in a rich gravy.

“I did, although the rideitself was uneventful. When I dismounted tae get a drink o’ water,however, things got…interesting.”

“Indeed.” She helpedherself to the Yorkshire pudding, which smelled divine. “You werein the park?”

“Alas, nae.” LordAberfoyle loaded his plate with the beef and pudding when Jamespresented them to him. “I fear I wandered a good deal furtherafield than I intended—all the way tae the burn where ye found me,in fact.”

Dora’s head shot up at that. “Whatwere you thinking, my lord? The soldiers could have been anywhere.”Her gaze met his, and something in his all-too-innocent eyes madeher suspicious. “You came upon them, didn’t you?” Her appetitevanished. They could be on their way here to arrest him this verymoment. “What happened?”

“Well,” he paused to spoona generous portion of creamed vegetables onto his plate, “I didmean tae ride only in the park. However, as I was woolgathering,the horse took over our direction and the next thing, Hannibal hadtaken me across the road and intae a field. We rode down it for abit then I recognized the wee burn. The horse wanted a drink, asdid I.” The earl took up his wineglass, raised it in a salute toher, and drank deeply.

“Didn’t it occur to youthat it was dangerous to be out in the open like that?” Picking ather food, Dora let out an exasperated sigh. “That if the soldierscame upon you, there’d be no place to hide?”

“I did have the presenceo’ mind tae tether the animal on the opposite side, under thetrees, before getting my drink.” Lord Aberfoyle seemed almostinsulted at her accusation. Lord, but the man could be infuriating.“I was just in the process o’ lowering my stirrup tae mount when Iheard the troop thundering down the bank.”

Heart racing, Dora couldn’t repress ashiver. This could have ended so badly for him.

“I kenned I’d never outrunthem if they saw me, which they certainly would have, sae I sentthe horse off, hoping he would go home, and burrowed under athicket o’ sticker bushes. Then Scarlet and his men appeared.” Hetwirled the stem of his wineglass and stared frankly at her. “Iexpected I would be taken for sure.”

“But you were wellhidden?”

“Apparently sae.” He setthe glass down and lifted his arms, palms upward. “For here I am.”He picked his silverware back up, dug into the beef, and closed hiseyes, a blissful look on his face.

“So then they rode on?”From his earlier words, Dora had supposed there would be more tothe story.

“No’ exactly.” He eyed herthen grinned. “One soldier, Sergeant Gates, heard me rustling underthe bushes.”

“Good lord!” Dora satstraighter, unable to take her gaze from his face. Had he beenfrightened or merely determined to evade capture?

“Gates crossed the burnand ended up standing right over me. I truly thought he’d found me.I even grasped a stick, ready tae attack him and flee as best Icould, though I kenned I wouldna get far.” Lord Aberfoyle leanedtoward her, and Dora held her breath. “When he drew his pistol andcocked it, I thought I was going t’ die.”

Unable to utter a sound, Doraswallowed hard. Finally, she managed to ask, “Did he shootyou?”

“Nae. He shot at, andmissed—at almost point-blank range, mind—a rabbit under the nextbush over. Close enough tae make my ears ring.” That infectiousgrin was back. “That’s when Scarlet called him back and theymounted up and rode off the way I’d come. I waited a good hour taemake certain they weren’t going tae return then crawled out andstarted home. I never found Hannibal, sae I hope hereturned.”

“He did.” With a sigh ofrelief, Dora picked up her wine and sipped avidly. Of course she’dknown his encounter had turned out well, but the intensity withwhich he told it had quite swept her along, as though she didn’tknow the happy ending. “I was still from home, but Hanson sentJames out to find you as soon as the horse appeared riderless. WhenAlfred arrived, he was sent out as well. I would have done so, butthere was no one left to saddle Gretchen for me.”

“’Tis a good thing yecouldnae, Miss Harper.” He stared at her over his all but emptyplate. His face had sobered, his eyes darker than before, his browsin a determined frown. “Ye had nae business traipsing around in thestorm looking for me. Especially when ye kenned there were soldierson the prowl.”

“I would have beenperfectly fine.”

“I am glad we dinna havetae find out the truth o’ that statement.” He finished off his wineand set the glass down with a clink. “One near miss with thosesoldiers was enough for one night.”

“With that I must agree,my lord. Although we will need to be on our guard tomorrow. I fearthey will put in an appearance here at last. Lord Trevor said theyhad been to his estate today and would come here next.”

“I ken. I heard themdiscussing it when I was under the bush.” Lord Aberfoyle met herstartled gaze. “I think this would be a good time tae formulate aplan for their visit, dinna ye?”

****

Of course the best way to assure MissHarper’s safety would be for Finn to disappear. If he rode outtonight, he could likely make Leeds by first light, follow thelady’s idea and lose himself in the poorer section of the city.From there, he could write to his uncle for assistance.