Page 50 of A Countess Never Tells

The journey back was much less physically taxing than the ride to Lady Northrop’s, but no less tension-filled. Not a good frame of mind to try to formulate an explanation for Baltimore’s latest machinations or his own violent reaction to the man’s accusations. By the time he arrived at the townhouse, Ash had managed to couch Baltimore’s slander of Kitty in a way that painted the baron as the blackest of villains. His own actions he believed Haxby would understand, even if he did not excuse them.

They entered the townhouse, and the ladies stopped to hand their wraps to the butler, leaving Ash and Haxby standing with nothing to do save eye one another. Unnerving to say the least. Ash was thinking he could use a brandy about now when Haxby started down the corridor toward the drawing room where Ash had met Kitty earlier.

“John, why aren’t we going to the family drawing room?” Lady Haxby’s tone was plaintive. “It’s a much more comfortable room.”

“Ashwood’s not family yet,” the earl growled.

The look the countess gave her husband would’ve felled a lesser man. “Nonsense. He’s going to be family in six months and would be tomorrow if you gave them leave to marry.” She squared her shoulders and gazed up at her husband with a look that said she would have the last word in this matter if the earl knew what was good for him. “We will go to the family room, if you please.”

With a sigh that might’ve shaken mountains, Lord Haxby offered her his arm. “Very well, my dear. I suppose you are correct in that.” He then led them all up the main staircase to the first floor and an intimate room furnished by a woman’s hand. There were plush chairs, a chaise, a large sofa, and club chairs for the gentlemen, all upholstered in varying shades of pinks and greens with some floral prints as well. More comfortable and much less threatening to Ash’s eyes.

Kitty led him to the chaise, one of the pieces covered in a silk floral print, and large enough only for two. Haxby would not be overjoyed with that seating arrangement, however Ash wanted Kitty beside him while he told them about Baltimore’s latest outrage.

Haxby walked straight to the sideboard and poured two tumblers of brandy. “I assume you’ll want one if what you need to tell us was grave enough to take us from the ball.” He handed Ash the glass of spirits, and the sharp aroma of the cognac was comforting. “Please begin, Lord Ashwood. What happened this evening?”

Taking a large gulp of the spirits, Ash savored the full-bodied brandy as it seared his throat and settled pleasantly in his stomach. He’d need more of this before the evening was through. Staring at the swirling amber liquid, Ash began with his trek back into the house from a “necessary” trip outside. He needn’t say what it had been necessary to do. He launched into the conversation he’d overheard with Baltimore, gratified by his audience’s shocked looks when he reported what Baltimore alleged he’d done to Kitty in the carriage.

“But I never entered his carriage.” The outrage on Kitty’s face made her look especially charming. Fortunately, the serious nature of the situation kept Ash’s desires in check.

“I know, my dear.” Ash patted her hand, and she seized his in a frantic grip.

“Because I was with you that day.”

Ash prayed she didn’t reveal what they’d been doing that day to bolster her story. “I know, he’s lying through his teeth, but we have no proof you were elsewhere. No one to vouch for us.” Lord, he was skating on thin ice here. “But I hope I put the fear of my retaliation into both Baltimore and Sir Cecil.”

“You should hope your attack on Baltimore hasn’t enflamed his thirst for revenge. This could be something he will feel he must avenge himself on.” Haxby headed back to the sideboard, and Ash followed him, draining his glass as he went. “He’s one to hold a grudge, from what I hear.”

“You are not wrong in that, my lord. I have no doubt the baron will seek revenge for the drubbing I gave him tonight. And if I am right, if he cannot devise a way to hurt me personally, he will try harder than ever to catch Kitty off guard and ravish her if he can.” His past sins had come home to roost for certain. “Which is why I believe you must give your blessing for Kitty and me to marry as soon as possible.”

“What?” Cognac splashed onto the sideboard as Haxby’s hand slipped. “Are you mad? Your feud with Baltimore has brought about this crisis, Ashwood, and you wish to benefit from your misdeeds by marrying my sister six months early?” The earl’s face flushed bright red. “Out of the question.”

“Then how will you guarantee Kitty’s safety?” God knew Ash didn’t want to antagonize his future brother-in-law, but this was now a serious issue. “If we married, that in itself would deter Baltimore. He wants to take the ‘prize’ of her virginity from me. Once that is no longer an issue, he may very well seek to hurt me in some other manner, but it is less likely to involve Kitty.” Ash sighed. “I really must discover a way to get rid of the man for good.” He cut his eyes around the small circle, all of them staring straight at Ash. “Not by causing his death, although that might be ideal. No, I need to devise some way to occupy Baltimore’s time so much he has none to devote to even thoughts of me.” Hopefully, something would come to him shortly.

“Very well,” Haxby spoke through clenched teeth. “You may marry in three weeks’ time.” Thank God, Haxby was pragmatic enough to realize Ash spoke sense. “But,” he paused to wave a finger in Kitty’s face, “all the other stipulations hold true. No women, strict settlements, and,” his gaze bored into Ash’s eyes, “no anticipation of the wedding night.”

A sigh escaped him, but Ash nodded.

After a moment, Kitty nodded also. “But only for three weeks.”

“A little under that, by my calculation.” Ash was counting the days. “It’s now Thursday. Later in the morning, we can go to my parish and ask Mr. Godolphin to read the banns starting this Sunday. That’s three days until banns number one, seven days until banns number two then another seven days until banns number three are read. A total of eighteen days if we marry the Monday after the third banns.”

“Will that satisfy you, John?” Kitty’s voice was plaintive. It had been a very long day for them.

“No, but it will have to do if you are to be safe.” He turned to Ash. “Very well, the Monday after the last banns are read. Not a moment before.”

“Nor a moment later.” Ash wished the vicar could perform the wedding after the stroke of midnight. He should check with Mr. Godolphin about that. He might need a special license to obey the letter of the law, but that could be arranged. Nothing like sticking to the letter of the agreement. It would be bad enough keeping all the other stipulations with Kitty so close to hand. Still, eighteen days was so much better than six months he couldn’t really complain. But he could dream about that eighteenth night.

“Just so long as we can marry, Ash.” Kitty stood and looped her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. “That is all that matters.”

Kitty was right, of course. All that truly mattered was that they could be together. So long as they kept Lord Baltimore away from them.

“Let us retire now, John.” Lady Haxby rose, bringing Ash to his feet. The lady truly looked done in. “And I wish to propose that, as Kitty is now duly betrothed, we can cease our attendance at these entertainments. There are other duties we need to attend to,” she gave him an inquiring look, “don’t you agree? We have been neglecting some very important things for much too long.”

A light appeared in Lord Haxby’s eyes, and he quickly offered his arm to his wife. “I do agree with you, my dear, regarding both things. Kitty,” he shot a glance at his sister, impatience in every line of his face, “I see no reason to continue this round of gaiety. You may use the time instead in conference with Judith to plan your wedding.” He turned his attention to Ash. “I will see you later this morning, at ten o’clock, say Ashwood, to hash out the settlements.” Eyeing Ash speculatively, he seemed to come to a conclusion, and nodded. “Come to dinner this evening. If you are truly to be one of the family, you need to know us.” The man’s mouth split in a huge grin. “And we can come to know you.”

That sentiment sent an odd shiver down Ash’s spine, but he nodded and smiled. “Thank you, my lord. I shall look forward to it.” About as much as he’d look forward to being trampled by a bull. But he’d be able to see Kitty, so that would compensate for any discomfort at the hands of her brother.

Lord and Lady Haxby left the room, and in the sudden quiet, Ash found himself alone with Kitty. Despite all the turmoil of the day, she still looked amazingly beautiful. Golden hair with not a lock out of place, pink cheeks in her pale smooth skin, bright blue eyes looking up adoringly at him. And now she was his…or would be in very short order. Ash had never considered himself particularly lucky. Until now. “We have had quite a day of it, haven’t we, my dear?”