Page 53 of A Countess Never Tells

Sir Cecil nodded, his face having gone white at Ash’s words as well. “If you will pardon us, my lord.” He touched his hat. “Good day, Miss Tate, my lord.”

“Good day, Miss Tate.” Lord Lavendon’s voice sounded so relieved Kitty almost laughed again. But this was no joke. She didn’t understand exactly what had just happened, but something very serious had occurred.

“My lord, Sir Cecil.” She bobbed her head, wishing they’d never come to the park. Smiling, Kitty held her breath as they rode off then turned to Ash. “What happened? I know Lord Baltimore threatened you, but what did you say that frightened those men so badly? I thought Lord Lavendon was about to tumble off his horse.”

“Just a moment, love. Harris, take us back to Haxby House, as quickly as you can.” Ash’s voice was grim, which frightened her as much as it had the two gentlemen.

“Ash, what is it?”

The carriage started at a brisk clip as he grasped both her hands and kissed them. “I don’t want you to be alarmed, my love. Between your brother and I, we will keep you safe.”

The tension in him transferred itself to her, and she began to tremble. “What do you mean, Ash? Safe from whom?”

“From Lord Baltimore, my dear.” Ash met her gaze, and she gasped at the pure anger in his eyes. “You see, in his message, he didn’t threaten me. He threatened you as a means to hurt me. That is how he plans to ‘break my bank,” by finding a way to hurt you.”

“Then what did your message to him mean?” She huddled next to him, and he put his arm around her shoulder.

“That whatever he does, if he succeeds in harming you, he will undergo my challenge.” The words were spoken calmly, not boastfully, which made them all the more deadly. “And then I will kill him.”

“No, Ash!” Dear lord, when would this all end? Well, there was a way to put a stop to it here and now. “Harris, take us to Lord Ashwood’s townhouse.”

The coachman turned all the way around on his seat to look first at her then at Ash, who gave her a perturbed look. “Continue on to Haxby House.”

“Very good, my lord.” Harris turned eyes front and started the horses.

“But, Ash—”

“No, my love.” He shook his head and pulled her closer. “Although it is tempting, it is not the way to end this.” His mouth beside her ear breathed warmth into her. “For one thing, how would Baltimore know that we had anticipated the wedding? We could hardly send him a note saying, ‘Miss Tate is now ruined, you must cry off.’”

She couldn’t help but chuckle at that then slapped at his hands. “That wasn’t the only reason, Ash.” Fear had had a part in her idea as well. “What if you can’t keep me safe? What if…” She swallowed and tasted salt. When had she started crying? “What if he manages to take me? What if he ravishes me?”

“He won’t, my love.” Ash wiped the tears away with his thumb. “I promise you. If I have to post footmen around the clock on every corner of your square, I give you my oath as solemnly as I will take my wedding vows, Lord Baltimore will not harm you.”

The conviction in his voice warmed her and her trembling ceased. Between Ash and John and her and Judith, they would concoct a plan so she would not have to fear for her virtue from anyone save Ash.

****

“What do you mean you need to marry Kitty immediately?”

They had all sat down to dinner, although Kitty didn’t think she could eat a bite. She’d been jumping at shadows ever since they arrived back home. Ash had gone to dress for dinner, and Kitty had run upstairs to her room and locked the door. Then she’d checked under the bed, in the dressing room, everywhere anyone might be able to hide. At last, she’d begun to breathe normally, only to shriek when Jolly knocked on the door.

When Ash arrived in the receiving room for dinner, telling her what he was going to ask John, she thought it an excellent idea. None of this would’ve happened had John allowed the marriage in the first place.

“Baltimore is making threats again.” Ash lifted his wine glass and took a deep sip. “I believe he means to exact vengeance for last night’s insult by assaulting Kitty.”

“How do you know this? Did you meet him today?” John busied himself with the pea soup that was simply too green for Kitty to entertain eating tonight. Judith also toyed with her food. It seemed her brother was the only one with an appetite.

“The gentleman Baltimore was bragging to yesterday delivered the message.” Twirling his empty wine glass between two fingers, Ash stared at the crystal, a preoccupied look on his face. “I can assure you, the threat is real. If we marry immediately, I believe it will take away the primary way the baron hopes to revenge himself on me.”

“We can accomplish the same thing and still wait for the banns to be read by simply keeping Kitty at home.” John signaled for the next course to be brought and the footmen whisked away the soup plates. “Lady Haxby has already sent her regrets to all the entertainments we were to attend for the rest of the Season. If we all remain cozily here at home, have the banns read for the next three Sundays, then have you marry the Monday after, there is no way Lord Baltimore can do anything to Kitty, unless he sets the house on fire.”

Her brother spoke flippantly, but after Ash’s reaction to Baltimore’s message today, she wouldn’t put much past the man.

Ash shrugged and helped himself to the flaky tench in a buttery lemon sauce. “That will likely work as well, my lord. If I am allowed to visit each day, I daresay the time will pass tolerably well for us.” He set the tongs back on the serving tray and the footman moved on to Judith. “But do not underestimate Lord Baltimore. Make sure all the servants are aware he may try to contact them to gain access to Kitty.” Ash now had everyone’s attention. “I’d also suggest that you refrain from hiring any servants until after the wedding, as they may be in Baltimore’s pay as well.”

John set his cutlery down on his plate then shook his head. “That is good advice, Ashwood. You seem to know Lord Baltimore’s capabilities well.”

“Too well, my lord. I wish I did not.”