Page 60 of A Countess Never Tells

“Ash, how lovely.” She rose and ran swiftly to him, kissing him before he could speak a word. “We were wondering when you would arrive. Judith,” she turned to her sister-in-law, almost breathless with joy. This would be her wedding day at last. “Ring for Barr and have John fetched.” She turned back to Ash. “We sent word to Mr. Moss at St. George’s that we would like to be married this afternoon, here at home.” She could scarcely believe it. At last, she would be married to Ash, with all the wonderful things that entailed.

Oddly, Ash hadn’t spoken a word. His brow was knitted into a frown that did not bode well at all.

“Ash, what is it?”

Looking rather as though he was about to be hanged, Ash took her hand. “I have both good news and bad, my love.”

“Let us have the good first, Ash.” Judith looked up at him expectantly.

“I’ve heard from several reputable sources that Lord Baltimore has quit London.”

“What?” Kitty and Judith both spoke together, their faces wreathed in smiles.

“This is wonderful news, Ash.” Kitty threw her arms around him. “We needn’t be afraid anymore.” She leaned against him, so relieved she might swoon.

“Are you certain of this, Ash?” The skeptical look on Judith’s face gave Kitty pause. Could it be a ruse?

“I was wary of the news when I heard it from Lord Aldbury, who I met on the way to the Archbishop’s. So I later called around at my club and White’s was abuzz with it.” Ash’s face remained grave, despite the amazing news. “The talk is that the drubbing I gave Baltimore humiliated him to the point he has set off for Italy.”

“So we are free of him at last?” Kitty couldn’t contain her joy. She kissed Ash with a heart unfettered by fear.

“It seemed so, but I wasn’t quite convinced until I visited his house.” Finally, Ash’s severe look lifted. “His knocker is off the door and when I inquired of his servants, they said he’d left for Dover yesterday morning, eschewing the edict not to travel on Sunday.”

“But this is marvelous news.” Judith beamed at Kitty. “Now you need not rush into your marriage.”

“Oh, no, Judith.” Kitty squeezed Ash around the middle. “John has agreed we may be married today, and I will hold him to that.”

Ash’s glum expression returned. “I’m so very sorry, my love, but I’m afraid we won’t be getting married today.”

“What?” Judith pulled the bell so hard the tapestry strip snapped back up in the air.

“Why?” Kitty could scarcely get the word out. Disappointment filled her so completely she felt slightly ill.

“Because the Archbishop of Canterbury is visiting his friend, the Bishop of Bristol, and won’t be back for a bloody fortnight. I beg your pardon, but I am beyond frustrated.” He looked into Kitty’s eyes, his anguish as bone deep as hers. “I now feel as though the Fates are trying to keep us from marrying.”

“Can’t you ride to Bristol and get the special license from him there?” That seemed the simplest solution.

“I thought of that.” Ash led her over to the chaise, and they sat. “But it’s above two hundred miles there and back. Even if I had good weather and a swift horse, it would take more than two days with changing horses and a short night’s rest along the way. Once there, I’d have to locate the archbishop, beg him to issue the license—if he can, in fact, issue it from Bristol, which I’m not sure he can—then ride back.” He shook his head, his face grim. “That will likely take an entire week, and by that time, the last of the banns will be read and we could marry anyway.”

“There doesn’t seem to be the urgency there was before.” Judith sat back in her chair, relief on her face. “Why not simply wait for the banns to be read?”

“Because we wish to be married now, Judith.” Kitty tried not to make her voice so plaintive, but they’d fought hard to be able to marry. It seemed wrong to have to wait now.

“I too think it best if we don’t delay.” Ash’s strong arm around her was reassuring. “Our sentiments on the matter aside, the sooner we can be made man and wife, the better for us all.”

“Well, then, if you can’t procure a special license, isn’t there another kind?” Judith had joined them, taking a seat in her accustomed wingback chair. “I remember Simon getting some sort of license because we didn’t want to wait for the banns. It wasn’t a special license because Simon didn’t want to pay the fee for that one.”

“Your late husband was as cheap as he was a brute, my dear.” John appeared in the doorway. “Why this talk of a common license?” He glanced at Ash. “You were getting the special license this morning, weren’t you?”

“And likely would have done so had the archbishop been in Town.” Ash rose, heading for the sideboard. “As it is, he’s in Bristol so we are contemplating the merits of other ways we could wed. Although the best news is that Baltimore has left Town.”

John joined him at the sideboard, pouring libations for both of them. “I heard that rumor when I was out this morning. Are you sure it’s more than a rumor?”

“I’ve had it from several sources, and I visited his house. Shut up tight.” John handed Ash a crystal tumbler, the cognac very close to the brim. “I believe we can rest easy.”

“Which means you can wait for the banns to be read before you marry.” John’s face lit up as he sipped his brandy.

“No!” Kitty sprang to her feet. “You promised, John, that we could be married today.”