Page 38 of A Countess Never Tells

Yr devoted servant,

Ash

If anyone could’ve managed to slip a note to her without her brother’s knowledge, she should’ve known it would be Ash. Now she needed her own subterfuge to get herself out of the house at just the proper time…

****

At two-forty-five precisely, marked off by the hands of the long case clock in the entry hall, Kitty watched from the front bow window as Jolly hurried down the steps to the sidewalk and turned left toward the part of town where the haberdasher’s shop was located. Kitty had sent her off, declaring she needed a new pair of stockings after discovering a series of holes in the pair she’d just bought. No one knew Kitty had slashed them with a pair of scissors five minutes before.

Now Jolly had gone, Kitty flew to the front door, pulled her China silk shawl around her shoulders, raced out the door and down the steps, and turned to the right. She had plenty of time to cover the one long block, but she kept looking over her shoulder, expecting Judith to have seen through her claim of going out with Jolly to the shop, and find her running down the sidewalk after her. Not that Judith ever ran, but Kitty wouldn’t put it past her in this instance.

Halfway down the block, she slowed to a respectable walk in order to catch her breath. She kept an eye out for an open carriage, although she wasn’t sure how she would recognize Ash’s.

She needn’t have worried about that, however. As she approached St. Albans, the door of a huge black lacquered landau opened. Ash emerged, looking splendid as always in a maroon jacquard suit, his hair neatly clubbed back.

Kitty put her hand in his and stepped into the luxurious conveyance. Ash followed her in and sat beside her, grinning. “Good afternoon, my dear. I see you received my message.”

“I did.” She smiled gaily and snuggled next to him. “Ingenious, to be sure, although I did think it might be an attack from Lord Baltimore.”

“I hoped you would be cautious. That’s why I mentioned the name Ashton. Sort of an authentication of the note, if you will.” He smiled and kissed her hand. “Intelligent and beautiful. Who could ever want more?”

She cocked her head at him, her smile rueful. “You do realize Joan is expecting an outing in Hyde Park on Saturday.” Her eyebrows rose. “Will Mr. Malcolm put in an appearance?”

“I fear not, my dear. Although he will send flowers and his regrets.”

“Do footmen do such things?”

“This one does.”

That was rather sweet of him, not wanting to disappoint a kitchen maid. She settled back in the leather seat, their arms touching.

They turned into the park and onto the carriage path, driving slowly until they entered a section overhung with flowering trees. As the carriage rolled to a stop, Ash bent toward her, his face drawn into serious lines. “Kitty, I want you to think hard about what we’re about to do. At this point, if anyone other than you and I knew the liberties I’ve already taken—at Vauxhall, on the balcony, here in a closed carriage—your reputation would be ruined beyond redemption.”

“And if it is ruined, John must allow us to marry or be the cause of the scandal.” The plan seemed the easiest way to force her brother’s hand.

“It is a dangerous game, make no mistake about it. If you push your brother’s displeasure too far, he is within his rights to cast you from his home, cease to support you, and refuse to give you your dowry. These are serious consequences, my dear.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, as somber as she’d ever seen him. Not the happy-go-lucky rake everyone assumed him to be. “Are you certain you trust me enough to risk everything?”

“Does the dowry matter much to you, Ash?” She’d never even thought of that possibility. The matter of his financial stability hadn’t occurred to her until now. Perhaps he wouldn’t or couldn’t marry unless his bride brought a substantial fortune with her.

His head was wagging before she even ceased to speak. “No, my dear. While money is always welcome, I tell you in all honesty it matters not a jot to me whether you come to me with only the clothes on your back or a dowry of thirty-thousand pounds.” He kissed her hands passionately. “It is you yourself that I desire, Kitty. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you at the theatre. That’s why I called in that favor from Lord Aldbury.” Now kissing her fingers one by one, he sent frissons of fire streaking up her arm. “The danger, however, is real, my love. If I truly ruin you, and your brother disowns you and makes the scandal public, we both may end up outcasts from Polite Society, even if we marry. Are you willing to risk that?”

To be exiled from the world that was all she’d ever known, to break forever from the family she loved and all she held dear were high stakes indeed. If they played and lost, they would have each other but no one else. Their children might not even be received, though born in wedlock. It was enough to make Kitty pause to consider the consequences as she’d never done before.

The alternative, however, was many times worse, at least in Kitty’s opinion. To never marry Ash, never feel his touch, never bandy words with him, or simply enjoy his company ever again would be a living hell for her. Even worse, she would never know the full depth of passion with him, nor the deep, abiding love she now longed for more than anything else on earth. The loss of these most essential needs made the risk of exile seem petty in comparison.

She gazed into his handsome, worried face, so precious to her now, and said, “Yes, Ash. I am more than willing to hazard it all for us to be together forever.” She bit her lip, almost afraid to ask. “Are you?”

He squeezed her hand and chuckled. “As I have no reputation to lose, my dear, I fear I risk much less than you. Although, you should be aware that once you are irrevocably compromised, I may undergo a challenge from your brother.”

Indignant, Kitty jolted upright. “I hardly see how he can challenge you when you are more than willing to marry me, and he is the one standing in the way.” She shook her head so vehemently her hat slid askew. “No, if you endure a challenge from him, it will be me he faces before he raises a sword or pistol to you.”

“If you are certain, then, my love?” Ash peered at her, his brow knitted into a frown.

“I am.” She nodded, her heart suddenly beating faster.

“Drive on, coachman.” Ash rapped on the trap.

“Where are we going now?”