“Nonsense. You're quite the best thing that has happened to me in recent memory.”

She turned rather pink and was annoyed with herself for being so pleased at his statement.

“If it weren't for a few appallingly bad habits, you'd be perfect.”

“I beg your pardon!”

He grinned wickedly. “I love when you beg my pardon.”

“Charles!”

“Oh, very well, I suppose you did save my fortune, so I'm inclined to overlook some of the smaller bad habits.”

“I have no small bad habits!” Ellie retorted.

“Yes, you're right,” he murmured. “Only big ones.”

“That is not what I meant and you well know it.”

He crossed his arms. “Do you want me to read the list?”

“I'm beginning to think you don't have a list. I've never met anyone who changes the subject as often as you do.”

“And I have never met anyone who talks as much as you do.”

Ellie smirked. “I suppose you'll just have to accustom yourself to my mouthy ways, then, seeing as how you married me.”

Charles turned his head sideways and looked at her assessingly. “Mouthy ways, eh? What sort of mouthy ways do you mean?”

She scooted away from him until she was almost falling off the bed. “Don't even think of kissing me, Billington.”

“My name is Charles, and I wasn't thinking of kissing you. Although now that you mention it, it's not such a dreadful idea.”

“Just…Read…The…List.”

He shrugged. “If you insist.”

Ellie thought she might scream.

“Now then.” He held the list in front of his face and snapped the paper to attention. “‘Number One: Cecil could inherit the fortune.’”

“I thought Cecil would inherit.”

“No, that's Phillip. Cecil would have to murder us both to inherit. If I hadn't married, he would only have had to kill Phillip.”

Ellie gaped at him. “You sound as if you think he has considered it.”

“I wouldn't put it past him,” Charles said with a shrug. “Now then, ‘Number Two: England could be annexed by France.’”

“Were you drunk when you made this list?”

“You must admit it would be a very bad thing. Worse than losing my fortune.”

“How kind of you to put the welfare of Britain before your own,” Ellie said acerbically.

He sighed and said, “I'm just that kind of man, I suppose. Noble and patriotic to a fault. ‘Number Three—’”

“May I interject?”

He looked over at her with a beleaguered expression that clearly said, “You already have.”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “I was merely wondering if these items are ranked.”

“Why do you ask?”

“If they are ranked, that means you think it would be worse for Cecil to inherit your fortune than it would be for France to conquer England.”

Charles let out a whoosh of air. “It's a close call. I'm not sure.”

“Are you always this flippant?”

“Only about the important things. ‘Number Three: the sky could fall to the earth.’”

“Surely that is worse than Cecil inheriting your fortune!” Ellie exclaimed.