“Don't wriggle back down.”

“Oh.”

Charles took a deep breath. Then she moved. Nothing big, just a slight twist of her hips. But it was enough. And so he kissed her. He couldn't have helped it if France were conquering England, if the sky were falling in, even if his bloody cousin Cecil were inheriting his every last farthing.

He kissed her, and he kissed her, and then he kissed her some more. And then he finally lifted his head for a second—just a second, mind you—to take a breath, and the confounded woman actually managed to get a word in.

“Is that why you wanted me to tilt my head?” she asked.

“Yes, now stop talking.”

He kissed her again, and he would have done more, except that they were wedged in so tight that he couldn't have wrapped his arms around her if he tried.

“Charles?” she said, when he took another breath.

“You have a talent for this, you know.”

“For kissing?” she asked, sounding more delighted than she'd probably meant to let on.

“No, for rattling on every time I stop to breathe.”

“Oh.”

“You're rather good at the kissing bit, too, though. A little bit more practice and you'll be superb.”

She elbowed him in the ribs, quite a feat considering he couldn't move his own arms an inch. “I'm not going to fall for that old trick,” she said. “What I meant to say before you led me into a digression is that Helen and Sally Evans must be terribly worried about us.”

“Curious, I imagine, but not worried.”

“Yes, well, I think we should try to get out. I'll be terribly embarrassed to see them. I'm sure they know what we're doing, and—”

“Then the harm is already done.” He kissed her again.

“Charles!” This time she didn't wait until he took a breath.

“What is it now? I'm trying to kiss you, woman.”

“And I'm trying to get out of this bloody chimney.” To prove her point, she began to slide back downward, subjecting him to the same erotic torture he'd suffered just a few minutes earlier. Soon she landed on the fireplace floor with a soft thump.

“That ought to do it,” she said, crawling out into the cottage and giving him a nice view of her sooty backside. Charles took a few breaths, trying to get a firm rein on his racing body.

“Are you planning to come out?” Ellie asked. She sounded disgustingly chipper.

“Just a moment.” He crouched down—moving was much easier now that she'd left the chimney—and crawled out.

“Oh my!” Ellie laughed. “Look at you!”

He glanced down as he sat next to her on the floor. He was covered with soot. “You're rather filthy yourself,” he said.

They both laughed, unable to deny the silliness of their appearances, and then Ellie said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I visited Mr. Barnes today.”

“And was everything arranged to your satisfaction?”

“Oh yes, it was perfect. It was really quite heady, actually, being able to take charge of my finances without subterfuge. And it will be a boon for you, as well.”