Page 15 of A Countess Never Tells

Well, he’d told her they needed to become more well-acquainted. And in his experience, kisses were an excellent way to accomplish that. This one had told him incredible things about her. Indeed, now he only wanted more.

“Lord Ashwood? Are you coming, my lord?” Lady Haxby stood at the crosswalk where the Grand Walk, bathed in soft light, began. Miss Tate, looking inordinately pleased with herself, stood smiling at him, making it very difficult to keep his cock from standing at attention.

“I am, Lady Haxby,” he called, hoping he was not speaking the literal truth. With a painful groan, he started toward them, trying to fix his thoughts on ice sculptures, or sleet-filled rain, blizzards in the dead of winter. Anything to keep his mind off the deeply appealing form and features of Miss Tate.

Chapter 7

Thankfully, Judith kept her word, and Kitty had to endure only ten minutes of John’s rant—sotto voce of course—as she tried to eat some of the ham, chicken, and salad without choking on it.

“To think that you lied to Judith and me, introducing this notorious rake as an upstanding gentleman, and then going off with him to do…God knows what…” John sputtered to a halt, although Kitty knew from long association with her brother that he was only getting started. “I am most disappointed in you, Kitty. Grievously disappointed.” Scowling furiously, he glared at her until Kitty put down her fork with a clatter. She’d had quite enough of John’s berating, no matter what she’d done.

“He couldn’t be all that notorious if you didn’t know of him or his reputation.” Kitty took advantage of John’s shocked silence to take a sip of wine.

“He was notorious enough to lie about who he is and then spirit an innocent young lady down a dark walk at Vauxhall.” John’s irritated voice told her she’d best approach this from a different tack.

“Calm yourself, brother, else you will make a spectacle of us all, not me.” She nodded to the rest of the party in the supper-room, all of whom were paying close attention to their conversation. Mrs. Fitzhugh looked smugly at Judith, Maria sent forlorn looks to Lord Ashwood, and Colonel Fitzhugh bristled at him. That gentleman merely sat with his back to the wall, grinning like a fool.

“How, pray tell, am I to calm myself when you have betrayed my trust, Kitty?” The hurt in John’s voice made her wince.

She hated to see the accusatory look in her brother’s eyes—hated to think she’d hurt him so gravely—but she’d taken enough of the blame. “It was your friend Lord Aldbury who betrayed your trust, John. He introduced Lord Ashwood as Ashbrook. I merely took it in good faith. He was your friend, so I trusted him to behave as a gentleman and act honorably. I think you need to speak a word with him about his motives in playing such a prank.”

“Aldbury would not do such a thing.” John had paled, seemingly as shocked by his friend’s perfidy as her own behavior.

“Well, I tell you it is true. How else would I think Lord Ashwood was Lord Ashbrook? I had never been acquainted with either gentleman before last evening. Had someone else introduced us, surely they would have used the correct name? Now, I grant you,” Kitty must be fair, “had they introduced him as Lord Ashwood and said nothing more, I would not have known of his dubious reputation unless they had told me that as well.”

“No decent person would have introduced you in the first place.” John was acting like a dog with a bone. Annoying, to be sure, but not terribly out of character for her brother.

“That you must take up with your friend, John. Something is afoot with Lord Aldbury and I suggest you ask him what happened. I refuse to take the blame for an honest mistake on my part.” Kitty shrugged and surreptitiously cast a glance at Lord Ashwood. He was talking avidly to Maria and her mother. She could not help but be perturbed at that. The least the gentleman could do was help defend her. Perhaps rakes didn’t act the same way as other gentlemen at all.

“Tell me, sister,” the lazy tone in John’s voice brought Kitty back on alert, “when did you discover he was Ashwood and not Ashbrook?”

Well, she’d expected that question would be one of John’s first. She could either lie to her brother—again—or tell the truth and face the consequences. Kitty sighed. Much as she was tired of being scolded like a recalcitrant child, she refused to lie to her brother anymore. “Last evening, just after we had danced for the first time. Lady Phoebe informed me of his true identity.”

“Then why, for the love of God—” John’s voice rose spectacularly. All heads in the supper-box turned toward him.

“John, lower your voice, please.” Judith put a restraining hand on her husband’s arm.

Thank the Lord for her sister-in-law’s cool head and her ability to reason with her husband. No one else ever seemed to be able to accomplish that feat.

Nodding, he patted her hand and readdressed himself to Kitty. “Why did you deceive us about who he was, then? Did he put you up to it?”

Kitty shook her head vehemently. “He had nothing to do with it.” Also not strictly true, as Lord Ashwood had suggested the subterfuge, but John was being overly protective at the moment. “I believed you would not be receptive to our acquaintance if you knew who he really was. So I used the identity your friend so obligingly provided.” She grinned at John. “And you have proved me right on that point, haven’t you, brother?”

“Kitty, I only want what is best for you, my dear. And dallying with a known rake is not in your best interests.” John glanced down toward Lord Ashwood, talking and laughing with Maria, as though he had not a care in the world. “The man is well-known for ruining young ladies then refusing to marry them. How he’s lived so long and not endured challenge after challenge, I have no idea.”

Kitty sat up so quickly she bumped into the table and dishes clattered. “Well, put that notion out of your head this minute. You have to promise me you will not call him out under any circumstances.” She’d not thought about what John might do if her honor was called into question.

“Why would you care, Kitty?” That soft tone of voice was back. “You aren’t entertaining the idea of Ashwood as a serious suitor, are you?”

With a sigh, Kitty shook her head. “No, I’m truly not. I don’t believe I could trust such a man enough to marry him. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy his company.” Lord, how could she explain this to her brother without lying again? “He dances so well. And he’s very witty and charming. And a handsome young gentleman.” She looked directly into her brother’s face. “Everyone seems to think I should marry Lord Quatford, who is a fine gentleman but none of those things. I simply want to enjoy the attentions of Lord Ashwood while I can.”

“No.”

“But—”

“No, Kitty. I forbid it.” John’s eyes shone like two pieces of blackest obsidian. “You will not become the scandal of the Season.”

“I have no intention of doing so, John. But I do mean to be polite to him when we are out in public.” There was simply no way she would give Lord Ashwood the cut direct or even be rude by not agreeing to dance with him.