A minute or so later they nearly had him into his room, but Charles suddenly stopped short and blurted out. “Do you know what your problem is, Ellie, m'dear?”

She kept trying to push him down the hall. “What?”

“You're too damned good at everything.”

Ellie wondered why that didn't sound like a compliment.

“I mean—” He waved his good arm expansively, causing him to lurch forward, which required Ellie and both of the footmen to grab him before he tumbled to the ground.

“Charles, I don't think this is the time,” she said.

“Y'see,” he said, ignoring her, “I thought I wanted a wife I could ignore.”

“I know.” Ellie looked desperately at the footmen as they pushed Charles onto his bed. “I believe I can handle him from here.”

“Are you certain, my lady?”

“Yes,” she muttered. “With any luck he'll pass out soon.”

The footmen looked dubious, but they filed out nonetheless.

“Close the door behind you!” Charles hollered.

Ellie spun around and crossed her arms. “You do not make an attractive drunk, my lord.”

“Really? You once told me you liked me best drunk.”

“I have reconsidered.”

He sighed. “Women.”

“The world would be a far less civilized place without us,” she said with a sniff.

“I agree wholeheartedly.” He burped. “Now, where was I? Oh yes, I wanted a wife so I could ignore her.”

“A fine specimen of English good cheer and chivalry, you are,” she said under her breath.

“What was that? Didn't hear you. Ah well, doesn't matter. Anyway, here is what happened.”

Ellie looked at him with an expression of sarcastic eagerness.

“I ended up with a wife who can ignore me.” He jabbed himself in the chest and yelped, “Me!”

She blinked. “I beg your pardon.”

“You can do anything. Stitch up my arm, make a fortune. Well, aside from blowing up my kitchen…”

“Now, see here!”

“Hmm, and you did mess up the orangery something awful, but I did receive a note from Barnes calling you quite the most intelligent female he'd ever met. And the tenants like you better than they ever liked me.”

She crossed her arms. “Do you have a point?”

“No.” He shrugged. “Well, I probably do, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting to it.”

“I would never have noticed.”

“Thing is, you don't need me for a damned thing.”

“Well, that is not entirely true…”

“Isn't it?” He suddenly looked a touch more sober than he had the moment before. “You've got your money. You've got your new friends. What the hell do you need a husband for? I'm clearly ignorable.”

“I'm not sure I'd say that…”

“I could make you need me, I s'pose.”

“Why would you want to? You don't love me.”

He pondered that for a moment, and then said. “Don't know. But I do.”

“You love me?” she asked disbelievingly.

“No, but I want you to need me.”

Ellie tried to ignore the way her heart sank a little when he replied in the negative. “Why?” she asked again.