He might have responded, but it was difficult to tell under the force of his laughter.

“All I meant,” she grumbled, “was that you seem rather enamored of me when we are…you know…and I thought if I could keep you here…”

He held out his wrists, “I am yours to bind, my lady.”

“I was speaking metaphorically!”

“I know,” he said with a sigh. “More's the pity.”

She tried not to smile. “I should disapprove of such talk…”

“But I'm so endearing,” he said with a rakish grin.

“Charles?”

“Yes?”

“My stomach…”

His face grew serious. “Yes?”

“It feels quite normal.”

He spoke carefully. “And by that you mean…?”

Her smile was slow and seductive. “Exactly what you think. And this time, I do know what you're thinking. I'm far less innocent than I was a week ago.”

He leaned down and captured her mouth in a long and melting kiss. “Thank God for that.”

Ellie wrapped her arms around him, reveling in the heat of his body. “I missed you last night,” she murmured.

“You weren't even conscious last night,” he returned, pulling out of her embrace. “And you're going to have to miss me for a little bit longer.”

“What?”

He wiggled away and stood on the floor. “Do you really think I'm such a cur that I would take advantage of you in this condition?

“Actually, I'd been hoping to take advantage of you,” she muttered.

“You were afraid I would fail as a husband because I wouldn't be able to control my baser instincts,” he explained. “If this isn't an excellent demonstration of control, I don't know what is.”

“You don't have to control them with me.”

“Nonetheless, you shall have to wait a few days.”

“You are a beast.”

“You are merely frustrated, Ellie. You'll get over it.”

Ellie crossed her arms and glared at him. “Send Judith back in. I think I preferred her company.”

He chuckled. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now get out before I throw something at you.”

Chapter 21

Charles's temporary vow of abstinence was just that—temporary—and soon he and Ellie were back to their newlywed habits.

They still had their independent pursuits, however, and one day while Ellie was poring over the financial pages, Charles decided to ride the perimeter of his property. The weather was unseasonably warm, and he wanted to take advantage of the sunshine before it turned too cold to take long rides. He would have liked to bring Ellie along with him, but she didn't know how to ride and adamantly refused to begin lessons until spring, when the weather would be warmer and the ground not quite so hard.

“I shall surely be landing on my behind quite frequently,” she had explained, “so I might as well do so when the ground is nice and soft.”

Charles chuckled at the memory as he mounted his gelding and took off at an easy trot. His wife certainly had a practical streak. It was one of the things he loved best about her.