“Ah, yes,” Charles said caustically, “the infamous list.”

“Speaking of our marriage agreement,” Ellie said, “have you settled my financial affairs?”

“Just yesterday, as a matter of fact.”

“You did?” She sounded quite surprised.

“Yes, but—”

“But what?” he asked testily, irritated that she hadn't expected him to keep his word.

“Nothing.” She paused, and then added, “Thank you.”

Charles nodded his reply. After a few moments of silence, he said, “Ellie, we really must discuss our marriage. I don't know where you obtained your poor impression of me, but—”

“Not now,” she interrupted. “I'm too tired, and I really can't bear to hear you explain how little I know of aristocratic marriages.”

“Any preconceptions I held of marriage were formed before I met you,” he explained.

“I have already told you that I don't believe that I am so heartstoppingly appealing that you would throw over your notions of what a marriage ought to be.”

Charles looked at her closely, taking in the wild length of red-gold hair that fell across her shoulders, and decided that “appealing” wasn't nearly a strong enough word to describe her. His body ached for her, and his heart—well, he wasn't so experienced with matters of the heart, but he was fairly sure that his was feeling something. “Then teach me,” he said simply. “Teach me what a marriage ought to be.”

She stared at him in shock. “How would I know? I'm as new to this as you are.”

“Then perhaps you ought not to be so quick to scold me.”

A vein very nearly popped clear out of her temple before she said, “I do know that husbands and wives ought to regard each other highly enough so that they do not laugh and turn the other cheek when their spouse is committing adultery.”

“See? I knew you had some firm ideas about marriage.” He smiled and leaned back into her bed pillows. “And I cannot tell you how pleased I am to hear that you are not interested in cuckolding me.”

“I would be pleased to hear the same thing from you,” she shot back.

His smile stretched into a full-fledged grin. “Jealousy never fell upon more appreciative ears.”

“Charles…” Her voice was laced with warning.

He chuckled and said, “Ellie, I assure you that the thought of adultery has not crossed my mind once since I met you.”

“That is reassuring,” she said sarcastically. “You have managed to keep your mind on the straight and narrow for an entire week.”

Charles thought about pointing out that it had actually been eight days but decided that seemed childish. Instead he said, “It seems to me, then, that your role as wife is quite clear.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“After all, I don't want to stray.”

“I don't like the sound of this,” she muttered.

“I would like nothing more than to spend a lifetime in your arms.”

She snorted. “I don't even want to think about how many times you've said that before, my lord.”