Page 54 of A Countess Never Tells

Kitty put down her fork, her appetite completely vanished. “Can’t the authorities make Lord Baltimore leave us alone?” All she wanted to do was marry Ash and live happily ever after. Why did everything conspire against that? None of this was fair. “John, don’t you know a magistrate in Bow Street? Can you contact him about Lord Baltimore’s threats?”

“My dear.” Ash reached out to take her hand. “There is little the courts can do unless Baltimore actually breaks the law. A veiled threat, no matter how seriously meant, is not against the law. Else my message to him would have landed me in the dock as well.”

“Come, Kitty.” Judith rose, bringing everyone to their feet. “Let us go to the drawing room. I’ll ring for tea and sandwiches and perhaps that will serve us better than a formal meal tonight.”

“Yes, please.” Kitty took her sister-in-law’s arm, and they hurried to the drawing room. No sooner had they sat and rung for tea than Ash and John joined them.

“We decided tea and sandwiches sounded much better to us as well.” John dropped a kiss on Judith’s brow. “And now we can all sit and talk less formally.” He looked around the cozy room. “Somehow this room always cheers me.”

“That’s because it’s for family, my dear.” Judith took his hand and pressed it to her cheek. “And we are all family now.” She smiled warmly at Ash. “So, Kitty, what gown should you wear for the wedding?”

Chapter 24

The next several days wavered between sublime and nightmare for Kitty. Ash called every day for tea and walks in the garden at the rear of the townhouse. Very short walks as the garden was scarcely larger than a pocket handkerchief—or at least that was how it felt to Kitty. Still, Ash was by her side, walking arm and arm, and they managed several passionate kisses behind a large ornamental urn at the rear of the property. However, nothing else untoward could take place without someone seeing their amorous activity.

Their foray to church Sunday morning had resembled a nightmare, however. The four of them had filed into St. George’s, as they had decided Kitty should be married in her family’s London parish and therefore, they should all attend the banns in that church. That had been all well and good, but John and Ash had insisted they be accompanied by four strapping footmen, who stood outside the church watching for the arrival of Lord Baltimore, should he put in an appearance. If that was not bad enough, everyone had stared at them and whispered as they took their places, which meant they all knew about Ash’s altercation with Baltimore. And likely about his threat against Ash and Kitty as well.

The entire time Kitty felt all eyes on her, especially when the banns were read.

The rector looked out over the congregation, spied their little band, and nodded. “This morning I publish the banns of marriage between Catherine Elizabeth Tate of Grosvenor Square, London and Galahad Swift, Lord Ashwood of St. James Place, London.”

Kitty sneaked a look at Ash and found his face full red. He truly despised his given name. And now those who might not have known it certainly did. She took his hand and gripped it. He truly had to love her to allow his name to be announced.

“This is the first time of asking,” the rector continued, gazing out over the congregation. “If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it.”

Suddenly seized with an uncontrollable fear that someone, Lord Baltimore or one of Ash’s previous amours, would step forward and stop the proceedings, Kitty craned her neck all around, looking and listening for any sign of objection. The rest of the worshippers apparently wondered as well, as a hum of whispering broke out that very moment. Panic about to set in, Kitty almost rose from her seat, however Ash’s hand on her arm arrested her.

“Do not fear, love. No one will prevent us from marrying.” His sapphire eyes were deep pools of blue that calmed her heart, his low-pitched voice soothed her soul.

She sank back in her seat, breathing hard, wishing to be home, to have all the trepidation over with. Ash took her hand, surreptitiously, and held it for the rest of the service, and that sufficed, although the dread of having to do this twice more seemed like penance for a crime she hadn’t committed.

As they filed out of the church—finally—Ash whispered, “I will get a common license this week, which means we won’t have to have the banns read at all. We can wait the three weeks if your brother wishes it, but I will not have you put through this anxiety again.”

“Thank you, my love.” She squeezed his arm with hers. “As always, you make me supremely happy.”

“Not nearly as happy as you have made me, Kitty.” He glanced around then lifted her hand for a kiss. “I am only sorry that you are discomfited by the situation with Baltimore and all the talk it has caused. I really need to put a stop to his intimidations.”

“I wish you could as well. But how?” Kitty could think of no way to check Baltimore’s behavior if the law couldn’t do a thing about it.

“Don’t give up hope yet.” Ash grinned, and the sun seemed to brighten around them. “I’ll come up with something. Trust me.”

Kitty thankfully returned home, happy to remain there for the duration of their courtship.

At least, that was what she’d thought on Sunday. By Thursday afternoon, she’d read every book she’d not already read three times, written copious letters to friends, family, and acquaintances, done needlework until her fingers bled from myriad tiny needle pricks, and paced the back garden until she swore she knew every flower, shrub, and blade of grass by heart. Ash was the greatest help, attending her every day faithfully, bringing her the latest on-dits, telling her about his primary residence in Staffordshire and how they would refurbish the house, informing her of his mother’s desire to attend the wedding.

Despite all Ash’s efforts, though, the walls of Haxby house seemed to be closing in on her by the minute.

“Judith, I will simply go mad if I cannot leave this house tomorrow.” She and her sister-in-law were having tea after dinner, waiting for Ash and John to come through once they’d had their brandy—what had come to be routine in the past week.

“Kitty, you know we agreed you would remain in the house until John gives you and Ash leave to marry.” Quite abruptly during the week Judith had begun to call Ash by his nickname, leaving John the only holdout. He had seen fit to drop the “lord” before his title and spoke of him as Ashwood. An improvement, surely.

“It was bad enough when I had to stay inside for a week to thwart Lord Baltimore’s wager. I never realized how awful it was going to be, with almost twice that confinement still to look forward to.” Kitty took a pink fairy cake from the tray, hoping for solace in sugar. All at once she bounded up in her seat. “Could we invite someone to dinner perhaps? Or tea? No one has paid a call here all week, so I feel like a pariah.”

“I noticed no one came on Tuesday, which is our usual at home day.” Sipping her tea, Judith frowned slightly. “I was actually thankful for it at the time. So much has been happening, I was happy for the respite. But now I think of it, it is odd that no one at all has called.”

“Perhaps Lord Baltimore has been spreading horrible rumors about me, and everyone is shunning me.” Kitty hadn’t thought of that before, but that was one explanation for the dearth of callers.

“There is no need to be melodramatic about it, my dear.” Judith smiled, although Kitty thought some spirit on the subject was warranted. “I am certain had such rumors been circulating Ash would’ve heard them and refuted them vehemently. He will not brook that sort of scandalmongering.”