Page 56 of Almost a Countess

To have their grand scheme brought lowby the slip of a groom’s tongue was maddening, but something wasbound to have tripped them up anyway. Finn listened to Scarlet withone ear while trying to concentrate on freeing hishands.

“You certainly had yourshare of good fortune with your hunt, lieutenant.” Dora’s tone wasanything but congratulatory. “But Grantham has more than one inn.How did you know to come here?”

“That was a bit of luck, Imust admit. We’d split up to cover each of the inns, and when Gatesrode into the innyard here at The Angel, there stood your aunt’srather elaborate carriage, Miss Harper. Your coachman had describedit in some detail after we applied the correct persuasions. Fromthat point, we simply bided our time. Discovering Aberfoyle’sdisguise gave us quite a laugh, and in the end, it proved useful inassisting in our capture of him. Skirts can be so cumbersome whenone is trying to run.” Scarlet scowled down at Finn. “You won’t berunning any more, I assure you, Aberfoyle.”

Dora kept glancing from Scarlet’s faceto the gun aimed at Finn’s head. Fear glazed her eyes. “If yourelease us now, I will see to it that you are not cashiered foryour treatment of us.” Then her face changed as a look of absolutedetermination came over it. “But if you continue your persecutionof Lord Aberfoyle, if you kill him, I swear on everything I holdholy, I will personally see to it that you are hanged by the neckuntil you are dead.” She peered directly at Scarlet, her facefilled with righteous indignation. “And I promise you, the lastthing you will see in this world will be my smiling face as theyput the noose around your neck.”

Scarlet laughed, although the man’sface had paled considerably. “You’re a woman. You have no power todo anything at all to me.”

“I myself, perhaps not.But I have powerful friends and relatives, lieutenant.” She noddedto Finn. “As does his lordship. His uncle is the Marquess ofAbernethy, one of the parliamentary representatives for Scotland. Iam the daughter of a viscount, Lord Downing, and the niece of theDuchess of Ostroda.” Dora took a step toward Scarlet, who actuallybacked away, although he kept the pistol trained on Finn. “And I amthe close personal friend of Viscount Trevor, who I believe youmet. I hope you remember his face. A no-nonsense gentleman, if everthere was one.”

“What of it, Miss Harper?”Scarlet’s face had acquired a fine sheen of sweat.

“Should word of any ofthis get to him,” she waved her hands about the room, “well, I sawwhat he did to my brother, who had assaulted the woman Lord Trevorloved. He will not wait for courts martial or a hangman’s noose. Ifyou’re lucky, he’ll simply shoot you and be done withit.”

“Shut up.” Scarlet pressedthe pistol against Finn’s head so hard the barrel dug into hisscalp.

Dora shrugged. “But if you’re out ofluck, he will cut you to pieces with his sword and enjoy your everyscream.”

“Hopkins! Shut this whoreup!” Scarlet jerked Finn up in the bed.

“Sir?” Hopkins steppedforward but looked confused. “You want me to gag her,lieutenant?”

“I want you to stop hermouth any way you can.” He looked down at Finn and leered. “I’msure you can think of something you can stick in there. Gates, grabher.”

Dora dodged around him and made a runfor the door, but the soldier caught her easily and pulled her backinto the room, forcing her down on her knees.

Finn’s heart stopped. After everythingDora had just threatened, Scarlet must be mad to order his men todo such a depraved thing. Neither Hopkins nor Scarlet would leavethis room alive, so help him God.

With a lecherous look, Hopkins said,“Yes, sir,” and his hand went to his fall.

It was now or never. Finn made a finalpull of the ropes and his hands came free. His legs were stillbound, but he’d have to deal with that somehow. Right now, he hadto stop Hopkins, standing before Dora, who looked utterlyconfused.

The man dropped his fall, his membertumbling out fully erect and ready.

Dora took one look and screamed. Shetried to rise, but Gates held her down.

“Open wide, little missy,”Hopkins crooned.

Chapter 23

In desperation born of fear, Finngrabbed not for the pistol but for the hand that heldit.

Leaning forward, intent on thedebauchery taking place at the foot of the bed, Scarlet was alreadyoff balance. Finn yanked the lieutenant onto the bed, grabbed thepistol, aimed and fired at Hopkins.

The man yelped and thumped to thefloor. Good. One down.

Tussling with the lieutenant, Finnscrabbled at Scarlet’s side and drew his dagger. Whipping itaround, he rested it against the man’s exposed neck. With his otherhand, he stripped the gag from his mouth. “Call off yer dogs, cur,or ye’ll no’ live tae see the dawn.”

The door burst open, and the duchessstrode in, garbed in a strange robe of many colors, followed by hermaid, Larkin, the innkeeper, and a number of curiouspotboys.

The duchess peered at him, lipspursed. “Apparently your ruse has been discovered, LordAberfoyle.”

Finn grinned at the older lady, aswelcome a sight as an avenging angel. “Good evening, Duchess.Apparently sae. Dora?” He tried to peer over the end of the bed butcouldn’t see her.

“I’m fine, Finn.”Carefully, she rose, stumbled into the arms of her aunt and burstinto tears.

“There, there, my dear.Get yourself in hand. You seem to have lived through the worst ofit.” The duchess peered down at the unconscious Hopkins. “Cansomeone cover this unfortunate man’s privates? I doubt he’d wantthem on display from the looks of them.”