“Nothing.”

Just then Cordelia dashed into the orangery and yelled, “Fire! There's a fire, I say!”

Ellie watched her new great-aunt run back out, then turned to Charles with an accusing expression. “You thought I set fire to the orangery, didn't you?”

“Of course not,” he replied.

“For the love of—” Ellie caught herself before she blasphemed. Really, her father would have a fit if he'd heard how badly her language had deteriorated in the two days since she'd left his household. Marriage was having a bad effect on her temper, that was certain.

Charles looked at the ground, suddenly feeling rather ashamed. His aunt Cordelia had been crying, “Fire!” once a day since he could remember. He should have had a bit more faith in his wife. “Do you like to garden?” he mumbled.

“Yes. I hope you will not mind if I do some work in here.”

“Not at all.”

They stood silently for a full thirty seconds. Ellie tapped her toe. Charles drummed his fingers against his thigh. Finally Ellie reminded herself that she wasn't naturally a meek person and she blurted out, “You're still angry with me, aren't you?”

He looked up, clearly surprised that she'd voiced the question. “That might be one way of describing it.”

“I'm angry with you, too.”

“That fact has not escaped my notice.”

His dry tone infuriated her. It was as if he were making fun of her distress. “I'll have you know,” she stormed, “that I never imagined my marriage as the dry, bloodless contract you seem to anticipate.”

He chuckled and crossed his arms. “You probably never imagined being married to me.”

“If that isn't the most egotistical—”

“And furthermore,” he interrupted, “if our marriage is ‘bloodless,’ as you so delicately put it, it is because you have chosen not to consummate the union.”

Ellie gasped at his crudeness. “You, sir, are despicable.”

“No, I merely want you. Why, for the life of me I don't know. But I do.”

“Does lust always make men so horrid?”

He shrugged. “I wouldn't know. I've never had this much difficulty getting a woman into bed before. And I was never married to any of the other ones.”

Ellie gasped again. She certainly didn't know the ins and outs of a typical ton marriage, but she was fairly certain husbands weren't supposed to discuss their amorous pursuits in front of their wives. “I do not have to listen to this kind of talk,” she said. “I'm leaving.”

She made it halfway to the door when she turned around. “No,” she said, “I want to garden. You leave.”

“Ellie, may I point out that this is my house?”

“It is my house now, too. I want to garden. You don't. Therefore, you leave.”

“Eleanor…”

“I am finding it very difficult to fully appreciate the pleasure of your company,” she ground out.

Charles shook his head. “Fine. Sink yourself into the dirt up to your elbows if you wish. I have better things to do than stand here and argue with you.”