Page 42 of Almost a Countess

“In that you are correct.Although why Harriet still allows your father to bully her isbeyond me.” Aunt Mimi shook her head. “I believe now she doesanything he asks just to console him for the loss of yourbrother.”

“That is likely true.”Dora sighed in relief. The family did not need another tragedy thisyear. Still, that meant there was no explanation for her aunt’spresence. “But I am still mystified as to how you come to be herewithout warning. If this were merely a social visit, I’d haveexpected a letter from you that I might be prepared to entertainyou properly.”

“Well, you have guessedcorrectly, niece, that this is not entirely a visit of my ownchoosing.” She nodded to Dora. “Of course, I am always delighted tosee you, but I am primarily here on business from yourfather.”

“Father’s business?” Dreadtrickled down Dora’s spine, and she exchanged glances with Violet.Any business belonging to her father was likely to end up causingher pain. Had he sent her aunt to evict her from Bromley? Dismissher servants? Anything was certainly possible. “What in the worldcould that be? And why send you, aunt?”

“As to why I am theambassador of the tidings, I fear I was in the wrong place when heneeded an emissary. I remained in London after your parentsreturned home this past spring. The atmosphere at the house inWiltshire is very somber as it is still a house of mourning. Ipreferred to stay in a house I rented in Mayfair, which is quitecheerful. But it positioned me closer to you when your father madehis business deal.”

How would a business deal concern her?Dora was about to ask that very pointed question when the dooropened. “Put the tea on the sideboard, please, Hanson.”

“I’m sorry to disappointyou, but I have no tea about me, I’m afraid.”

Dora’s head shot up at the sound ofTristan’s voice. Dear God, and Finn right behind him. “Lord Trevor,I did not see that it was you. Aunt Mimi, you may also rememberLord Trevor?”

Tris stiffened as if he’d received ablow then he seemed to relax and directed his most charming smileat her aunt. “I will be devastated, Duchess, if you do not.” Hetook her hand and kissed it.

“How could I forget you,Lord Trevor?” Her aunt seemed to be repressing a smile. “Never haveI experienced such excitement in a single quarter of an hour.” Shethen looked inquiringly past Tris to Finn.

Dora’s heart sank.

“Dora, will you introduceme to this gentleman? Surely, we have not met.” Aunt Mimi’s browsrose. “I daresay I’d remember him.”

“Duchess,” Tris cut insmoothly, “allow me to make known to you Lord Aberfoyle, a friendof mine from London. Aberfoyle, this is the Duchess of Ostroda,Dora’s aunt.”

“I am pleased to meet you,my lord.” Her aunt cut her gaze toward Dora and shook her head. AndDora could have sworn she heard her aunt mutter, “Such ashame.”

“I too am pleased tae meetye, Duchess.” Finn smiled his widest and followed Tris’s lead bykissing her hand.

“Please make yourselvescomfortable, gentlemen.” Before she could say anything else, thedoor opened to reveal Hanson, a full tea tray in his hands,followed by James with a tray laden with pastries. Thank goodnessfor the distraction. The butler set his tray on the table to herleft, while James put his on the sideboard. “Thank you, Hanson.That will be all for now. Is Mrs. Carlyle preparing a room for myaunt?”

“At this moment, theBromley room is being readied.” The most elaborate of the guestbedrooms, created in the event of a visit from royalty or foreigndignitary. As her aunt was a duchess from Poland, the choice wasindeed admirable.

“Very good. Thank you,Hanson. That will be all.” Dora lifted the teapot and began topour. The familiar ritual helped calm her frayed nerves. “Aunt Mimiwas just about to tell us how she comes to make this surprisevisit, weren’t you, aunt?”

“Indeed. Make mine withthe tiniest bit of milk and sugar. Just enough to take thebitterness out of the tea, please.” As if Dora didn’t remember howher aunt took her tea. “Well, I was telling Dora that because I wasin London, and therefore the closest relative who could travelhere, her father insisted that I come fetch her home.”

“Fetch me home!” Theteapot crashed onto the tray, rattling all the teacups in theirsaucers. “What do you mean you are to fetch me home?” This wasworse than the fear of Finn’s discovery. “Why?”

With her mouth pressed in a straightline, Aunt Mimi looked her squarely in the eyes. “He’s arrangedanother marriage for you, Dora.”

A peculiar roaring filled her ears,and Aunt Mimi’s face wavered, turned to black.

Coughing, Dora opened her eyes on fourfaces peering anxiously down at her. Violet held her vial ofsmelling salts. “What happened?”

“You swooned, dear.”Violet tucked the vial into her pocket. “Can you situp?”

Nodding, Dora came upright as theothers backed away.

“Are you all right, mydear?” Aunt Mimi peered keenly at her. “I am sorry to have causedyou such a shock, although I didn’t believe the news would elicitquite that amount of consternation. You must have known your fatherwould not let you linger here long, like a fallow field, beforefinding you the most advantageous match possible.”

“But he assured me I wasruined when I jilted Lord Trevor.” That had been her one savinggrace, to know she was unmarriageable and therefore had escaped herfather’s machinations.

“Apparently with thecorrect incentives, one is never too ruined.” Aunt Mimi sniffed. “Itold him he would not find you easy to convince. When you thwartedyour father by refusing to marry Trevor, you showed me you weremade of sterner stuff than we’d anticipated.” Her aunt gave her asmug smile. “Your father saw it as a childish fit of pique, but Iknew better. But he’s been obsessed recently with finding you ahusband. Any husband, it seems. I visited with your parents oftenwhen they were in Town, and Melchior was constantly writing to onegentleman or another to see if he could entice them to marry you.”She sighed and sipped her tea. “Apparently, at last, he has doneso.”

“Well, I won’t do it.”Dora glared defiantly around the room. “I won’t go home, and Icertainly won’t marry whoever it is he wants to force me towed.”

“Do you know who he’strying to betroth Dora to, Duchess?” Tris had stepped up to heraunt, his voice low and strained.