Page 57 of A Countess Never Tells

“Yes, well, the baron made insinuations about my intended that I would not stand for, seeing that I knew for a fact they were false. I came close to issuing a challenge but was prevented. Now I am hoping we keep our distance from him until we can be married, at which point Baltimore must cease his harassment or meet me.”

“Indeed? I had no idea the breach between you was so serious.” Lord Ashbrook took his cards up and commenced rearranging them with precise movements. “I wonder at your being here this evening then.”

Kitty shot a glance at Ash, blood draining from her face.

“What do you mean, my lord?” Ash dropped his cards to the table and took Kitty’s hand in his, warm and reassuring. “Lady Haxby was assured by Lady Wymer that Lord Baltimore had not received an invitation to the party this evening.”

“That is true, Lord Ashwood.” Phoebe stared at her betrothed. “Mama is quite circumspect about those she invites. Lord Baltimore’s reputation is such that she would never issue him an invitation to a party I was attending. She would not have invited Lord Ashwood—” Phoebe stopped abruptly, her face turning scarlet.

“You are quite correct, Lady Phoebe.” Ash seemed to take no offense—it was his nature to accept another’s judgment of him if he thought it warranted. “I have never received an invitation from your mother to any entertainment due, shall we say, to my disreputable ways. Until tonight, that is.” He grinned at Kitty. “I believe my good behavior is being vouched for by my fiancée.”

“I am certain if Lady Wymer has invited you, Ashwood, you have proven yourself to be a changed man. And it is accurate that she did not issue an invitation to Lord Baltimore.” Lord Ashbrook played the king of clubs.

“Then why are you surprised we are here, my lord?” At Ashbrook’s admission that Baltimore hadn’t been invited, Kitty released Ash’s hand and busily shuffled her cards, finally laying down the ten of diamonds, the trump suit in this game.

“Because Baltimore is here.”

“What?” Ash’s head jerked up, meeting Kitty’s staring eyes. How had this happened? “You said Lady Wymer didn’t invite him.”

Kitty looked from Ashbrook to Phoebe to Ash, terror striking her heart.

“She didn’t. Lord Wymer did.” Ashbrook looked up from his hand, surprise on his face at Ash’s consternation. “I was in the study with them just before I came here to meet Lady Phoebe. Baltimore and Lord Wymer concluded some land purchase yesterday afternoon and learning of the party, he apparently begged an invitation.”

Lady Phoebe’s face had paled. “If Papa invited him, he might not have mentioned it to Mama at all.” Her gaze met Kitty’s. “I’m so sorry, Kitty.”

“We must take our leave immediately, my lady.” Ash rose, assisting Kitty as she clung to him for dear life. “Can you have Lord and Lady Haxby fetched to the foyer? Tell them Kitty has suddenly swooned and we must leave at once. Lord Ashbrook?”

“Yes, my lord?” The younger gentleman had risen, looking more alert than before.

“Have Lord Haxby’s carriage brought to the front, but quietly, both of you. We do not wish Lord Baltimore alerted. With luck, we can escape him without an altercation.” Ash’s arm around Kitty steadied her. “Come, my dear.”

Phoebe and Ashbrook preceded them from the small room, and Ash stuck his head out of the doorway, looking back and forth for the wretched baron. Kitty was so very tired of this man ruining her life she wished him far, far away from England. Almost as much as she currently wished for the necessary.

“I see no one at the moment. Let us head for the foyer. Hopefully, we will avoid him completely.” Ash led her out into the corridor, but Kitty hesitated.

“Ash, we need to go the other way.” This was absolutely not the time, but Kitty had no choice.

“What do you mean?” He cocked his head, a look of concern on his face. “Are you actually about to swoon?”

“No, but I need to find the lady’s necessary. There is one back this way.” She pointed toward the rear of the house. “There’s a chamber pot in the bottom of a sideboard in the furthest drawing room. It’s used only by the family, but I’m certain Phoebe’s mother won’t mind.” She grabbed his hand and headed the way she’d pointed.

“Kitty, can this not wait until we get home?”

“No, Ash. I’m afraid not.” The fright of discovering Baltimore’s presence had made the situation not just urgent but dire.

“Very well, my dear.” The tone of her voice must have convinced him, for he took her hand and led her down the dim corridor to a closed door she pointed out to him. “Here.” He took down a candle from the sconce on the wall. “If this room is not being used tonight, there may not be any light. I’ll stand guard, just as I promised to.” His grin flashed again then he opened the door, and Kitty sped in.

Ash had been right, no candles burned in this drawing room. She lifted the one in her hand, found the sideboard and was rewarded with a clean blue-and-white bourdaloue. The candle now became a nuisance, but she managed to set it in a glass dish on the sideboard, where it remained while Kitty was occupied.

A few minutes later, much relieved, Kitty replaced the receptacle and took up the candle again when there came a thump on the door. She strained to hear if Ash had called her name, but there was nothing. “Ash? I’m finished.”

The door opened, and Kitty was overpowered by a musky, animal-like scent that made her eyes water. Lord, what was that smell? Kitty thrust the candle out in front of her, revealing the pale skin, thick lips, and protruding eyes of Lord Baltimore.

“Oh, I assure you, we have not yet begun, my dear.”

****

Whatever had bashed Ash on the head fortunately only caught him a glancing blow. Still, he went down like a stone onto the cold parquet floor, cushioned only by part of a thin rug. He lost his struggle to stay conscious almost immediately but came back to his senses as what he assumed were Baltimore’s henchmen carried a struggling Kitty out of the drawing room. Now the darkness, which had allowed them to sneak up on him, became his ally.