Count's in advance, being cut short (4)
I believe the answer is:
earl
'count's' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'advance being cut short' is the wordplay.
'advance' becomes 'early' ('early' can be similar in meaning to 'advance').
'being cut short' means to remove the last letter.
'early' with its last letter removed is 'EARL'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for earl that I've seen before include "British peer and Dublin street" , "Real (anag) - nobleman" , "British nobleman" , "Male member of British nobility" , "Rank immediately above viscount" .)