“Oh.” Charlotte considered him for a moment, then flashed her dimples at him. “I think it’s best if you don’t know. You’re bound to not like it, and as I have engaged Crouch’s help, I’m sure that I will have no further need for assistance, so truly, it is best if you were to simply forget about it.”

He counted to ten, still felt like yelling, so repeated the process three more times before he managed to get out, “Statements like that are not the least bit likely to generate disinterest on my part. I insist you tell me what your project is and how Crouch is to help you.”

Charlotte patted his arm and turned toward the door. “I’m trying to be a good wife to you—I’m only thinking of your happiness, Dare. The plan would upset you, so you must trust me that on this, ignorance is better. Thus, I shall keep you in ignorance, and all will be well.”

“Wife—” he warned through gritted teeth, but it did no good. Nothing much did with Charlotte.

“My lips are silent on the subject, husband. You may take red-hot tongs to me, but I shan’t divulge even the smallest morsel of information, and it’s no good looking at Crouch in that manner, for his lips are just as silent as mine.”

Dare handed his wife up into the carriage. He looked back at the pirate butler, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest, one hip leaning against the door frame. “Do I assume that my wife speaks correctly on your behalf?”

“Aye, sir. I’ve given ’er m’word.”

“I see. In that case, just as soon as I have seen my lady home, I will return to…discuss…the matter with you in greater detail.”

If Dare didn’t know better, he’d swear a look of amusement flashed in the butler’s eyes. “I ’ad a feelin’ ye would be, sir. I’ll ’ave the cook lay in a supply of ice.”

Dare nodded and climbed into the coach after Charlotte. Life suddenly looked very good. He gave his wife a small smile, amused by the worried looks she was casting over at him as he cracked his knuckles and flexed his fingers. For once he was grateful for her stubborn streak; rather than forcing him to press her until she told him what she was up to, he would find out the same information from Crouch—with the added satisfaction of settling the score between them. His smile deepened into a grin as she started to wring her hands.

This revenge was going to be sweet, very sweet indeed.

***

“I appreciate the fact that you wish to attend the opera tonight, husband, but how are we to explain that?” Charlotte pointed, standing at what she considered a safe distance from where Dare lounged on the chaise in his bedchamber.

Her husband removed the thick piece of beefsteak from his face and flexed his jaw, grimacing in pain with the slight movement. “I don’t see that we have to explain anything. It’s no one’s concern what I do with my face.”