Page 44 of Almost a Countess

“You married my niece outof hand? Without benefit of the consent of her guardian?” Theduchess’s shocked countenance had given way to one of sternindignation. Unfortunately, the lady was intelligent and did notmince words. “Was it also without benefit of clergy?”

“Actually, it was.” Finngrinned and seemed to relax. “Would ye like the wholestory?”

As one, the little groupnodded.

“Very well. It began lastautumn.” He drew in a deep breath and sent a prayer up that hedidn’t end up digging his own grave with this scheme. “I was inTown for the Little Season and at some entertainment or the other,Trevor introduced me tae Miss Harper.” He’d not had much time towork out the details of the story, so he hoped Dora could volunteersome bits to it here and there. “I knew she was betrothed taeTrevor, sae I thought naught o’ it, other than tae wish themhappy.”

So far, so good. “Earlier this summer,I found I had business tae conduct in York. I came down from myestate near Aberfoyle in Stirling, bringing a horse for me tae ridealong the way. And well,” Finn shook his head, “the rest rivalsShakespeare’s Comedy o’ Errors. One day, I’m not quitecertain how, the coachman got completely lost and we ended up nearBrompton. When he stopped for directions, I elected tae ride, sae Isent the carriage ahead tae York. I was taking a short cut,directed by Mrs. Jameson at The Green Tree Inn, and my horse puthis foot in a hole. Flipped me end over teacup intae a ditch.” Hehoped Dora would chime in any time now to make this thin tale a bitmore probable. Finn nudged her hand. “And that is when…”

“That is when I foundhim.” Dora smiled at him, and Finn blessed her once more. She roseto the occasion beautifully. “Gretchen and I were out riding, andthe horse shied at something that turned out to be Finn. I managedto get him home on Gretchen then I had the doctor fetched, whopronounced him sound save for a sprained ankle.” Dora seemed towarm to her tale. “When he came to—I will tell you he hates salvolatile even more than I do—he turned out to be Tris’s friendI had met last year.”

“And they say coincidencesnever actually happen.” Trevor’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but atleast the man seemed willing to go along with the scheme. Fornow.

“Go on, Dora. I amfascinated at how you and Lord Aberfoyle have been broughttogether.” Violet smiled broadly at Dora. “Almost as if the Fateshad taken a hand in it, don’t you think?”

The duchess looked around the room atall of them, her stern face softening a measure. “It certainly doessound fortuitous, doesn’t it? Although I suppose stranger thingshave happened. I would never have met my husband had I not eatensome bad lobster patties at a ball.” The duchess chuckled. “I hadto run out into the garden to cast up my accounts. Ostroda found meout there, wretchedly ill, and assisted me so easily, without anyembarrassment at all, that I fell in love with him on the spot.”She nodded her head so vehemently the feathers on her hat waggled.“I am the Duchess of Ostroda only because Lady Hawthorne happenedto serve bad fish to her guests.” Tapping her cane on the floor,she nodded. “Proceed.”

“Well,” Dora seemed a bitsteadier now, “as I said, I brought Finn here and had the doctorfetched. He pronounced a sprained ankle and said it could take amonth or more for it to heal.” She squeezed Finn’s hand, sendinghis heart rate soaring. “Before the month was scarcely begun, weknew we were in love.”

“Imagine that.” LordTrevor apparently could not help himself from contributing snideremarks.

“We took my carriage andmade a dash tae Gretna Green.” Finn lifted Dora’s hand and placed akiss on it. “We were married over the anvil o’ a blacksmith’s shopabout a month or sae ago.” He grinned at the duchess. “Sae althoughwe were without benefit o’ clergy, we are married just the same.When we heard that Lord and Lady Trevor had arrived in the county,we invited them here for dinner and had agreed tae wait until wegentlemen joined the ladies after dinner tae announce ournuptials.”

“Do you see now, aunt,that I cannot obey my father’s wishes, even if I wanted to?” Dora’splaintive voice would have touched the hardest heart. “What do yousay, Aunt Mimi? Will we have your support against my father when hehears about my marriage?”

“Well,” the duchess staredfirst at Finn then turned her gaze on her niece. “I will have manyquestions for the two of you later,” she wagged her finger back andforth between him and Dora, “and some of my words may not be quitefit for Polite Society, but I do have one thing to say at present,Dora.” She went from face to face, her stern visage singling outeach of them before pronouncing, “For this to be a truecelebration, you must break out the champagne.”

Chapter 18

“I must say,” the Duchessof Ostroda said as she sipped her champagne, “I am actuallyrelieved that you are so handily taken care of, Dora, and at lastbeyond your father’s power. Melchior has been out of control eversince your brother died. You know of his latest scheme to marryyour niece to a man three times her age, do you not?”

“Yes, aunt. Judithrecounted the whole sordid story to me.” Dora sighed. She wishedshe truly was beyond her father’s power to control her. “However,as it all has turned out well for Judith and Anna, I am very happyfor her and her new husband.” She turned to Violet, who was makinga face at the drink in her hand. “You would like him very much,Violet. He is truly a kind gentleman. Is something thematter?”

“The bubbles are ticklingmy nose. I keep wanting to sneeze.”

Everyone laughed, and the room seemedto relax. Unfortunately, from the look on Tris’s tense face, thefireworks were scarcely over.

“Aunt Mimi, you must betired. If you like, I can have Mrs. Carlyle show you to your room.Let me ring for Hanson. Did you bring Marcella withyou?”

“You know I would neverstep the first foot on a journey without her.” Marcella was heraunt’s lady’s maid of twenty years. At least her aunt would haveeverything settled just as she liked when she retired. After allthis excitement, she would need a good rest.

And once her aunt was out of the room,she and Finn could hopefully allay any fears Tris and Violet mighthave. She assumed there would be many.

“I believe I will go upnow.” Her playful glare rested on her and Finn. “I’ve had all theexcitement I can stand for one evening. Although do not think Iwill not have an interview with you two in the morning.” She noddedvehemently.

“We will await it withlight hearts, Duchess.” Finn smiled his brightest at her. “There isnaught we willna answer for ye.”

If only that were true.

Aunt Mimi rose. “I will see you bothin the morning, then. Lord Trevor, Lady Trevor, good evening. Isuppose I must expect excitement to be de rigueur whereveryou are to be found.”

“It would seem that way,Duchess.” Tris bowed, his smile warm and charming. “I look forwardto another escapade when we next meet.”

“So pleased to see youagain, Duchess.” Violet curtsied then subtly elbowed herhusband.

The door opened, and Hanson appeared.“Yes, Miss Harper?”

Her aunt turned to her, a black frownmarring her face. “Why does your butler still address you as MissHarper, Dora?”