Dare pulled out his pocket watch and consulted it. “Two minutes. I believe, Batsfoam, that is a record for you. Based on past performance, I wouldn’t have thought you could work a mention of your spleen into a narrative that lasted anything less than six minutes. I commend you on your brevity.”

Batsfoam bowed deeply to his employer. “I live, as you know, sir, for your pleasure.”

“Then it should make you ecstatic to know that I will not need the carriage today. I will be spending the entire day working on the engine. I’m sadly behind schedule, owing to the mishap with the pistons, so I won’t be going anywhere for a while. Charlotte? What are your plans for the day? I’m sure Batsfoam would be nigh on delirious with joy if you were to provide him with more of those tasks he is always nattering on about.”

Charlotte looked up from where she was glaring at her innocent plate. “Surely you don’t intend to spend the entire day working? I was hoping we might make one or two appearances in public together so as to stifle some of the rumors circulating about us. I thought perhaps a ride in the park—or a drive, if you can procure a suitably smart phaeton—followed by some shopping, and an appearance at the opera tonight would go far in proving to everyone that we are just as good as we were before that horrid man put forth his ridiculous claims.”

Dare shook his head, the dark blue of his eyes brittle and hard. “I don’t give a fig what the ton thinks of me, and I’ll be damned if I feel it necessary to prove myself to them. I have to work on the engine, Charlotte. It is vital that I have at least a month to conduct trials with it before Whitney and the other Yankees come for the naval industrial exhibition, and in order to conduct those trials, I must first have the engine working. If I devote myself to it night and day for the next week, I will have it done in time.”

“Perhaps you would like my assistance,” Charlotte suggested hopefully. “I would be happy to cancel our plans for the day if you’d like me to help you with your machine. Nothing would please me more than to know I was of service to you.”

Dare looked a bit panicked by her offer of assistance. “That is very thoughtful of you, but I will have Joseph to help me today and Batsfoam later to draw in the modifications I’ve made, so although I appreciate your desire to help me, it will not be needed.”

He didn’t need her. He hadn’t wanted to marry her because he didn’t need her. Charlotte swallowed that painful knowledge and merely nodded.

“There’s no reason for you to change your plans,” he added. “You can still take your ride and go shopping and go to the opera. You’ll just have to do it without me.”