A choking sort of sound emerged from Ellie's throat, and she covered her face with her hands. She was shaking so hard he didn't know what to think. “Ellie?” he said urgently. “Ellie, my love, say something. Please talk to me.”

“Oh, Charles,” she finally managed to get out. “You're such an idiot.”

He drew back, his heart and soul aching more than he ever thought possible.

“Of course I love you. I might as well have written the words on my forehead.”

His mouth fell slightly open. “You do?”

“I do.” It was hard to hear her voice, for she was speaking through laughter and tears.

“I thought you might, actually,” he said, teasing her by adopting his favorite rakish expression. “I've never really had much trouble with women before and—”

“Oh, stop!” she said, throwing her pillow at him. “Don't ruin this perfectly perfect moment by pretending you orchestrated the entire scenario.”

“Oh?” He raised a brow. “Then what should I do? I've been a rake my entire life. I'm at a bit of a loss now that I'm reformed.”

“What you should do,” Ellie said, feeling a smile begin at the core of her being, “is come over here to this bed and give me a big hug. The biggest you've ever given.”

He closed the distance between them and sat by her side.

“And then,” she continued, her smile now on her face, in her eyes, even in her hair and toes, “you should kiss me.”

He leaned forward and dropped a feather-light peck on her lips. “Like this?”

She shook her head. “That was much too tame, and you forgot to hug me first.”

He gathered her into his arms and pulled her onto his lap. “If I could hold you like this forever, I would,” he whispered.

“Tighter.”

He chuckled. “Your stomach…I don't want to—”

“My stomach feels remarkably restored,” she sighed. “It must be the power of love.”

“Do you really think so?” he asked, chuckling.

She made a face. “That was the most maudlin thing I've ever said, wasn't it?”

“I probably haven't known you long enough to make that judgment, but given your rather plainspoken nature, I would venture to agree.”

“Well, I don't care. I meant it.” She threw her arms around him and held tight. “I don't know how it happened, because I never expected to fall in love with you, but I did, and if it makes my stomach feel better, then so be it.”

In her arms Charles shook with laughter.

“Is love supposed to be this much fun?” Ellie asked.

“I doubt it, but I don't plan to complain.”

“I thought I was supposed to feel tortured and agonized and all that rot.”

He took her face between his hands and gazed at her seriously. “Since you became my wife, you've been seriously burned, suffered a massive case of food-poisoning, and I won't even begin to list Claire's many transgressions against you. I should think you've paid your dues in the realm of torture and agony.”