Page 64 of A Countess Never Tells

Kitty was headed for the door when the maid spoke up. “What about your hair, miss? It’s all the way down your back. Won’t someone notice?”

Well, they might, and they might not. If anyone was around to see her, they’d likely think her a strumpet, and if they recognized her, there would be a piper to pay in the morning. She ran back into the dressing room, tossed things about until she found a black velvet cloak that would hide all of her, including her face if she pulled the hood down far enough. The garment was suffocating, but Kitty didn’t care at this point. Lifting skirts and cloak so she wouldn’t trip, she and Joan left her room and tiptoed down the corridor to the servants’ stairs.

“Is anyone else stirring?” Kitty whispered as they neared the narrow staircase.

“No, miss. Well, just William. That’s the footman.” There was an unmistakable smile in her voice. “He comes by to see me most nights and on me ’alf day.”

“Good for you, Joan.” Well, at least the girl had had better luck with this footman than the last one. Kitty smiled in the darkness as they crept down the stairs. “Can William find me a hack?”

“I’ll go ask him, miss.”

Long minutes later, there was a tap on the door and Kitty rushed outside. “Leave the kitchen door unlocked, Joan. I’m certain it will be all right until I return.” She hugged the little maid, startling her a great deal. “Thank you so much, Joan. I can never repay you for this.”

“I’m ’appy to ’elp you, miss. I know you an’ Lord Ashwood have had a time o’ it. William tole me some o’ it.” The maid opened the gate, and Kitty hurried out, immediately spying the carriage not ten paces from her.

“Thank you, again, Joan. Now go inside so no one knows any better.” Kitty headed toward the carriage.

The coachman jumped down and opened the door.

Kitty looked around warily, but no one was stirring.

The man held out his hand to her.

Kitty shook her head, brushing away her misgivings. Baltimore was on his way to Italy. And she was on her way to Ash. “Thank you. Number twenty-five St. James Square.” She let him help her into the carriage and settled herself into the cracked leather seat. Excitement rose in her once again as the team started, taking her the short distance to Ash’s house, to finally end the waiting and the longing in one glorious night together.

****

The sound of a door opening and closing roused Ash from a wonderfully erotic dream about Kitty. He always dreamed of her now, but this dream had been extraordinary in its vividness. He’d taken her into the orangery at the home estate, with the sweet smell of oranges and lemons all around them. For some reason, he’d been painting her standing naked next to an orange tree, and she’d picked and peeled an orange and was rubbing the wet pieces all over her body. Juice trickled down her neck, over her breasts, and dripped off her nipples.

“Why don’t you come taste me, Ash?”

He’d licked his lips and started for her, ever so happy to oblige her, when the sound of the door pulled him up toward consciousness. His head was fuzzy, probably from the cognac Haxby’d sent, although he’d not drunk that much. At least he didn’t think so.

A candle flared, and he raised his head with difficulty, expecting to see Thompson come to draw the drapes. God, he didn’t want him to let the light in, not with his head thick like this.

“Not now, Thompson,” he mumbled, too ready to go back to sleep and dream of Kitty.

The bed dipped and suddenly a naked arm draped itself around his shoulders. It must be Kitty, finally come to his bed again. This was his chance to make her his for once and for all. But first he had to wake up.

Wake up…

****

Kitty peered out the window as the carriage rolled into the shadows in front of Ash’s townhouse. Nothing and no one was stirring in the quiet square, thank goodness. She rapped on the trap, and the coachman’s face appeared. “Yes, miss?”

“Take me around to the mews, please.” Pray God she remembered the way into the house—and that the servants had been warned away again.

The carriage turned the corner slowly, and the darkened silhouette of the stables at the rear came into view. Kitty gathered her skirts, pulled the cloak’s hood up again, and stepped boldly down the steps to the archway that led to the stables.

“You’ll wait for me?” She turned back to the coachman. To be stranded at Ash’s home would be disastrous. Well, at least a little scandalous. They were practically married, although John assuredly wouldn’t see it that way. He’d allowed them some intimate time throughout the week, though, so perhaps remaining here with Ash wouldn’t be so bad. Still, she’d rather return home with no one the wiser.

“Yes, miss. I’ll be right here.”

With a nod, Kitty hurried through the arch to the stable door. Where had Ash gotten the lantern? She didn’t remember. Drat. Somehow, she’d have to navigate the tunnel in the dark. Taking a deep breath, she opened the stable door, and faint light from a window showed her the way to the tunnel door. Kitty pulled the door open and was met by cool, stale air, like before. But before, she’d had Ash to lean on and lead the way.

Well, she’d have Ash again at the end of the tunnel. Resolutely, she stepped forward into the blackness, drawing the door closed behind her. She waited a moment for her eyes to adjust, but there was no light at all for them to adjust to. Just pitch-black air. With the pace of a snail, Kitty felt for the side of the tunnel and was at last rewarded with the feel of rough, damp stone. Taking courage from the solid rock, she stepped forward, leaning on the tunnel wall as she’d leaned on Ash before. More confident now, she increased her pace until her foot hit a sharp rock, and she pitched forward, barely catching herself in time to remain standing.

Kitty shook her hair back out of her face, and determinedly set out again. Not many steps later, the floor began to rise. Thank God, she was almost at the end. Her hand met the corner, and she inched to the right until she encountered the door. With a huge sigh of relief, she opened it and slipped into the kitchen.