Page 44 of A Countess Never Tells

She’d been seething when she’d stalked out of the drawing room, running to her bed chamber and sobbing until she fell into an exhausted sleep. She’d awakened with swollen eyes and a bruised heart but steadfast, nevertheless. She had resolved to marry no one but Ash, with or without her brother’s permission. Neither John nor Judith could change her mind about that.

To that end, she’d sent for Jolly, determined to look her best if she managed to steal a few minutes with Ash at Lady Northrop’s soirée. The maid had done wonders in repairing her appearance, the ravages of her tears all but disappeared.

“You are a marvel, Jolly.” Kitty peered at her reflection in the mirror over the toilette table. “No one will ever know I’d been acting like a watering pot two hours ago.”

“Tricks of the trade, miss.” Jolly smiled as she set the last bejeweled pin into Kitty’s fair hair. “Every lady’s maid has her own secret potions for such things. I say wet tea leaves work the best for clearing up puffy eyes.”

Kitty had to agree. Looking at her now clear complexion, she’d never have believed her earlier blotched appearance possible.

“You’re just done, miss.” Jolly stepped back to admire her work.

Kitty rose, feeling herself a new woman. The bright blue of her gown, with gold trim, set off her eyes wonderfully well. Her sapphire pendant and earrings caught the light, enhancing the sense of movement when she nodded her head. They should keep Ash’s attention firmly on her—not that she thought she needed to worry, but it was always fun to keep a man fascinated—especially while they danced. If she could get away from John long enough to do so.

A discreet knock on the door, and a footman handed her a folded note. Thanking him, Kitty opened it to find only seven words written in John’s precise hand: Please come to the drawing room immediately.

Wary, Kitty motioned for Jolly to drop the fringed China silk shawl over her shoulders. Well, if John wanted to have another row before they left, she was perfectly willing to give it to him. Not that it would make the slightest bit of difference. Her mind was made up. Ash wanted to marry her. That was all one needed to say. Throwing back her shoulders, Kitty raised her head and stalked out of the room.

On her trek downstairs, she became more angry, more indignant at John’s flat refusal to allow their marriage. He wasn’t prepared to compromise at all, which was so unfair. With each step she grew livider until when she finally stood before the dark-paneled drawing room door, she could almost feel the fire bursting from her nose, like a dragon hell-bent on destruction. John was no St. George, so he would either change his tune or Kitty would give him more than simply the rough side of her tongue.

Eyes wide, jaw set, Kitty threw open the door and strode in, drawing in a breath and scanning the chamber so she could get in the first salvo.

And stopped dead after taking two steps into the room.

Ash stood uneasily before the fireplace, his face made red by the dying embers, his features stark, drawn into sharp planes. His eyes widened when he recognized her. A moment later, he’d covered the distance to her in two huge strides.

Kitty gaped at him, unable to move.

“What are you doing here?” they asked at once then stood staring at one another.

Slowly, Kitty shook her head, trying to awaken from what must be a dream. “I don’t know. I was summoned by John.” She peered at him, unable to believe her eyes. “Are you real?”

Ash didn’t speak but grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a kiss that left no doubt whatsoever as to his presence in the drawing room. “I’m as real as can be. Lord Haxby sent a note to me twenty minutes ago asking me to call here.” He lowered his voice. “What did you tell him about…where you were this afternoon?”

Ever cautious, Kitty glanced over her shoulder, but they were alone. “I said we went driving in the park, which was true, then we went to the Pot and Pineapple for ices—you had pomegranate, by the way—and finally to the booksellers to check on the next installment of Clarissa, which they didn’t have, and then you brought me home.”

“Well, it may not be the truth, but it’s not likely to ruin your reputation either.” He shook his head. “We were mad to do it.”

“We were mad not to…to complete what we set out to do.” Kitty’s cheeks heated. She’d almost said, “make love” and discovered, despite what had occurred today, she wasn’t as bold with Ash as she’d thought she was. “Had we done so we might this moment be planning our wedding. As it stands now…” She sighed. She hated to take sides against her brother who, despite his stubbornness in the matter, was dear to her heart. However, if the only way she could marry Ash was to break with John, then such an end was worth any estrangement. “I told him I’d marry you no matter what.”

“What?” Ash’s face turned white. “What did you mean? What did you tell him?”

“I reminded him that I was four and twenty, well past my majority. I could marry you tomorrow, and he couldn’t do a thing to stop me.” A flare of righteousness shot through her, making her more than willing to forsake her family for the man she loved.

Ash hung his head. “What did he say to that?”

“Nothing. I stormed out of the room crying, so I don’t know if he made any response, but I don’t think he did.” She looked at Ash, fear in her heart. “Unless this is his response.” She swallowed hard. “To allow us to say goodbye to one another.”

“We are not saying goodbye, my dear. Far from it.” He rubbed the knuckles of her hand, sending shivers down her spine. His merest touch affected her more than any other man ever had. “Do you think that after everything that transpired this afternoon, I would allow another man to touch you in a similar manner? Whether he was married to you or not?”

“Oh.” Stunned, Kitty barely got out that little squeak. It had never occurred to her that Ash would feel that way about her. Would feel so possessive. His words warmed her all over. “I suppose I never thought about that.”

“I wanted Lord Haxby to change his opinion of me, but if he will not, we will confess that I have irrevocably compromised you.”

Kitty gasped. To think about telling John what they had been doing and to actually tell him were two very different things. Oceans apart. “You want to tell him what we did today?”

“No.” Ash’s lips were set in a thin line. “We will tell him we were so certain we would be able to convince him to allow the marriage that we anticipated the wedding night. There is no way to gainsay it. My reputation is such that he will easily believe it—he may already believe it is a fait accompli—and will demand we marry immediately.” Despite that happy prospect, Ash’s face remained glum.

“What is the matter, my love?” The endearment sounded awkward on her tongue, but she relished it.