This man, she decided, definitely qualified as extraordinary. As did the situation in which he'd recently placed her. She smiled weakly, thinking that she ought to be made of sterner stuff. His was a remarkably handsome face, and his charm—well, there was no arguing that it wasn't lethal. Still, she needed to conduct this interview like the sensible woman she was.

She cleared her throat. “I believe we were discussing…” She frowned. What the devil had they been discussing?

“Your hair, actually,” he drawled.

Ellie felt a blush creeping along her cheeks. “Right. Well. Hmmm.”

Charles took pity on her and said, “I don't suppose you want to tell me what prompted you to consider my proposal.”

She looked up sharply. “What makes you think there was a specific incident?”

“You have the look of desperation in your eyes.”

Ellie couldn't even pretend to be affronted by his statement, for she knew it was true. “My father is remarrying next month,” she said after taking a long sigh. “His fiancée is a witch.”

His lips twitched. “As bad as that?”

Ellie had a feeling he thought she was exaggerating. “I am not jesting. Yesterday she presented me with two lists. The first consisted of chores I must perform in addition to those I already do.”

“What, did she have you cleaning out the chimney?” Charles teased.

“Yes!” Ellie burst out. “Yes, and it was not a joke! And then she had the effrontery to tell me I eat too much when I pointed out that I would not fit.”

“I think you're just the right size,” he murmured. She didn't hear him, though, which was probably for the best. He didn't need to scare her away. Not when he was this close to having her name on that blessed marriage certificate. “What was the other list?” he inquired.

“Marriage prospects,” she said in a disgusted voice.

“Was I on it?”

“Most assuredly not. She only listed men whom she thought I might have a chance at catching.”

“Oh, dear.”

Ellie scowled. “Her opinion of me is quite low.”

“I shudder to think who was on the list.”

“Several men over sixty, one under sixteen, and one who is simpleminded.”

Charles couldn't help it. He laughed.

“This isn't funny!” Ellie exclaimed. “And I didn't even mention the one who beat his first wife.”

Charles's humor faded instantly. “You will not be married off to someone who will beat you.”

Ellie's lips parted in surprise. He sounded almost proprietary. How very odd. “I assure you that I won't. If I marry, it will be a man of my own choosing. And I'm afraid to say, my lord, that out of all my options, you do seem to be the best of the lot.”

“I'm flattered,” he muttered.

“I didn't think I would have to marry you, you see.”

Charles frowned, thinking that she didn't need to sound quite so resigned.

“I have some money,” she continued. “Enough to support myself for some time. At least until my sister and her husband return from their holiday.”