Jane resolved to make some effort to explain, but her words came out more clipped and forceful than she had intended. ‘The ballroom was our collaboration. To have you decide upon and make changes yourself makes me feel as though you have little regard for my skills or opinions. That the glamour you changed was one which I created makes . . .’ She crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly cold. ‘I must assume that you have lost trust in me because the knot came untied.’

‘Knots do that!’ He buried his hands in his hair, staring at her as if she were a perplexing strand of glamour. ‘I have not lost trust in you, and certainly not for something so small as that. For Heaven’s sake, Jane, I corrected an error during dinner myself.’

‘You never left the table.’

‘Well. No.’ He had the grace to shift uncomfortably. ‘I have some practice at repairs from the dinner table.’

The way he dug his toe into the carpet put her in mind of a schoolboy caught out, and it quite undid her. Jane glared at him with mock severity. ‘I heard from Lord Lumley about your exploit with the clock tower, so I do not know why I pretend surprise.’

‘Yes, well. Well. I was not a nice boy.’

‘I might vouch for that.’

This prompted a hurt expression, so at odds with his usual gruffness that Jane softened and slipped her hand in his. ‘I did not mean it.’

‘No, you are correct. I should have spoken with you about the changes. I am used to working alone and have no practice at sharing responsibility.’ Shaking his head, Vincent returned to the chair, drawing Jane down to sit upon his knee. ‘I will amend that.’

‘Thank you.’ Jane kissed him on the forehead, which was still too warm for her liking. ‘You should always call me, if for no other reason than that I might stop you from overworking yourself.’

Smiling, Vincent leaned back against the chair. ‘I work harder to try to match you than I do on my own.’

‘Stop.’ She tweaked his nose. ‘I will not listen to false flattery.’

‘It is true!’

‘Hm.’ She did not believe him, for all that she was unwillingly pleased by his praise. ‘But how did you learn to work glamour from so far?’

He cleared his throat. ‘Remembering that I was not a nice boy, and bearing in mind that you love me now . . .’ He paused to kiss her on the cheek. ‘You do love me now?’

‘Very much.’ She leaned against his chest. ‘Now continue.’