Countess's husband (4)
I believe the answer is:
earl
'countess's husband' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for earl that I've seen before include "Lear (anag)" , "Sandwich perhaps" , "Aristocrat ranking between marquis and viscount" , "Jimmy Carter's middle name" , "British noble" .)