Page 48 of Almost a Countess

“I understand, Finn.” Shedidn’t necessarily agree, but if he wished to wait for them to wed,she supposed she could have restraint as well. “It won’t be long,though, will it?”

“Nae, my love.” He stareddeeply into her eyes, and a thrill raced through Dora. He looked ather with a hunger she’d never seen, a look of desire beyond anyshe’d ever experienced. Her knees weakened, and she was glad shecould lean back against the wall. Finn bent his head to taste herlips again, whispering, “No’ very long at all.”

Chapter 19

Confession might be good for the soul,but in Dora’s opinion, the person responsible for that old adagehadn’t taken into account the secular repercussions. Withforeboding, she and Finn presented themselves and confessed theirdeception to her aunt in the morning room directly after breakfast,with the added audience of Violet and Tris.

To Dora’s dismay, Aunt Mimi had gonequickly from stunned silence to very vocal indignation.

“I am shocked and utterlydismayed at your cavalier attitude toward telling the truth, Dora.”Aunt Mimi fixed her with a baleful eye that made Dora want tosquirm in her seat as though she were five and had been caughtsneaking sweets from the kitchen. “And you, Lord Aberfoyle, havebehaved even more shockingly. Not only have you attempted todeceive me, but you have come amazingly close to ruining my niece’sreputation and tricking me into condoning the behavior. What onearth were you thinking?”

Finn had met her aunt’s scowling facewith frank honesty. “I believe I thought only o’ yer niece,Duchess. O’ how much we’ve come tae care for one another, and thatthe only way I can ask tae court her is if my name is cleared. Taethat end, I must journey tae London noo. I couldna wait as Dora’sfather gave her in marriage tae another, sae tae give me time taeask for her hand, I said we were already wed. Noo, the mostexpeditious way for us tae accomplish this is tae have ye serve aschaperone and traveling companion on the way tae London. Then, oncemy name is cleared, we can go tae Wiltshire.” He looked at Dora, asoftness coming into his eyes. “I tried tae dissuade her, but sheinsisted on accompanying me tae provide a safeguard shouldLieutenant Scarlet happen upon the carriage. He wilna be searchingfor a couple, and certainly no’ for a party o’ threepersons.”

“Aunt Mimi, we were wrongto lie to you, but we are desperate.” Grasping her aunt’s hands,she sent a prayer up to the Almighty to sway the woman’s mind. “Wehave had very little time together. Don’t you think we deserve tohave a little more?” Her aunt sat, unmoved, and Dora wracked herbrain for an argument that might sway her. “And just think, AuntMimi. If you and I travel with Finn, if the soldiers find him, Icannot help but think we can dissuade them from harming himfurther, at the very least. We can make sure if he’s recaptured, hewill have a fair trial.” Dora didn’t even want to consider thepossibility of Finn being in the hands of those merciless men oncemore. She shuddered and pushed the thought aside. “Please, pleasewon’t you help us?”

“By rights, I should turnyou over to the authorities myself, young man.” Glaring at Finn,Aunt Mimi raised her teacup and took a long, deliberate sip,dragging out the moment as long as she could.

Frantic, Dora held her breath—her aunthad ever been as good as her word. From long experience, if AuntMimi decided to summon Lieutenant Scarlet, there would be nochanging her mind.

“However,” her aunt sether cup down, “I have always had a soft spot in my heart for youngcouples facing adversity.” Aunt Mimi pursed her lips. “And you twoseem to be facing more than most. Between your impendingincarceration, Lord Aberfoyle, and your father’s determination tosaddle you with a middle-aged husband, Dora, I do see that if youare to have any chance at happiness, I must step in.”

“Thank you so much,Aunt—”

“Do not thank me yet,child.” Her aunt’s face remained stern. “In order for me to helpyou, I have several stipulations to which you must agree, or I willnot lift a finger.”

“Name them, Duchess.” Finnsat forward eagerly. “I promise ye we will follow them tae theabsolute letter.”

Aunt Mimi fixed him with a cool lookthat sent a chill down Dora’s spine. “You may wish to consider theconditions I require before agreeing to them so blindly, mylord.”

Unabashedly, Finn grinned at her. “Ifit means in the end, Dora and I will be together, I would make adeal with the devil himself. Nae offense tae ye,Duchess.”

“None taken, young man.”Aunt Mimi smiled. “You might, however, prefer the devil’s deal tomine.”

Dora exchanged a look with Finn andshook her head. These conditions would definitely not be to theirliking. “What are your conditions, aunt?”

“First and foremost, youtwo will have no private contact whatsoever.” Aunt Mimi’s gazerested directly on Dora. “No hand holding, no kissing, andabsolutely no physical intimacy at all during thejourney.”

Not an unexpected demand, althoughDora had held out hope of her and Finn deepening their courtship insome of those ways. With a sigh, she nodded. “I promise to abide bythose rules, Aunt Mimi.”

Finn’s sigh was exactly the same, buthe answered, “I promise as well, Duchess.”

“Good. The other conditionconcerns my belief that simply posing as Dora’s husband will notserve nearly as well to deceive the lieutenant as a more intricatedisguise.”

Dora glanced at Finn and shrugged.What better scheme had her aunt hit upon to conceal Finn’sidentity? “What disguise is that?”

Smiling broadly, Aunt Mimi said, “Ipropose Lord Aberfoyle take on the appearance of an actual friendof mine, Mrs. Helena Devereaux.”

“Mrs. Devereaux?” It tookDora a moment to understand her aunt correctly. “You want Finn todress as a woman?”

“Ye want me tae dae what?”The stunned expression on Finn’s face would have been quite comicalhad the situation not been so desperate.

Still, Dora had to smother a smile ather beloved’s wide-staring eyes, raised eyebrows, and droppedjaw.

“If you prefer to take thedevil’s deal, I will understand, my lord.” Her aunt’s devilishsense of humor had never been so apparent.

Finn gulped. “Are ye quite sure that’sno’ the devil’s deal?”

“But Finn…” Why was hebeing stubborn about this? “This disguise won’t be very differentfrom wearing a kilt, will it?”