Page 1 of A Countess Never Tells

Chapter 1

London

Late June, 1762

“Are you enjoying the ball tonight, Miss Tate?” Lord Ashbrook, whose brilliant blue eyes and fashionably coiffed dark blond hair thrilled Kitty Tate each time she looked at him, smiled broadly as they took hands and chasséd down the line of dancers in Lady Sutherland’s ballroom.

“Yes, my lord. As I love to dance, all balls give me the most enjoyment allowed.”

“You do look as though you are having a fine time. Your cheeks are very pink.”

Kitty laughed as they chasséd back, turned in place, then passed to the left. “I have danced every dance this evening, so I should think they would be apple red by now.”

This fourth set however, had been the most exciting of the night, thanks to being partnered by Lord Ashbrook. She’d been hurriedly introduced to him because the set had just been making up, and he was that rarest of gentlemen this late in the Season: a new face. She’d not met him before, never even seen him that she recalled. With his good looks, she’d certainly have remembered. “Have you danced much this evening, my lord?”

“This is only my second set, I fear. I’ve not danced at all until tonight, so I’m getting my dancing legs back, so to speak.

“I don’t recall seeing you at any of the other entertainments this Season. Have you been in hiding?”

The steps of “The Black Nag” demanded Lord Ashbrook hey with the other gentlemen in their set, so she followed her steps and turned in a circle then the ladies heyed among themselves before she met her partner again as they took hands for the promenade. She looked expectantly at him for her answer.

“Sadly, I have been out of London for some months. Out of England, to be exact.”

“Where?”

“In Italy.” He glanced at Kitty. “And I am heartily sorry for it, Miss Tate, having missed the pleasure of your company for that entire time.”

Kitty smiled but kept her eyes forward. “You are kind, my lord. What kept you in Italy so long?”

“Oh, just some family business. My mother wished me to take care of it, and a dutiful son could not refuse, could he?”

A doting son. That spoke well of Lord Ashbrook. “Of course not. I hope you were able to enjoy yourself while you were there, though. It wasn’t all business, I hope.”

He grinned, making him look sweetly boyish. “I did get to indulge in some entertainments while I was there, I assure you. One cannot focus solely on business when one is in Rome.”

“Rome.”

They parted again with Kitty sighing in envy. The ruins, the museums, the shopping opportunities all made Italy one of the places Kitty longed to see. When she married, she and her husband would take a wedding trip there.

Kitty came back together with her partner. “I am quite envious, Lord Ashbrook.”

He frowned and stared blankly at her.

“For being able to visit Italy. I have longed to travel there ever since I was a child.”

They bowed as the music came to an end, and he offered her his arm. “Thank you for a lovely dance, Miss Tate.”

Kitty took it gladly, pleased with their dance. “You are quite welcome, my lord.”

“May I escort you back to your chaperone?”

“Yes, please. My sister-in-law is just there.” She nodded to Judith, standing on the opposite side of the ballroom. “The lady in purple. She has had much tragedy in her life in recent months. She lost her husband in January, and her father is recently deceased as well. She is wearing half-mourning so she can help chaperone me during the Season.”

Judith had been a childhood friend, and Kitty grieved for her many current troubles. That Judith had found a measure of happiness by marrying Kitty’s brother John—Lord Haxby—made Kitty ecstatic. Still, she hated being a burden to her sister-in-law, considering everything she’d been through.

“You like her very much, don’t you?” Lord Ashbrook’s voice had softened.

“I do. She’s been my greatest friend for years. I only wish her life was not so difficult at the moment.”