“It’s quite simple,” Charlotte repeated, her dimples flashing. “You are being pursued because you are unmarried. Therefore, you should marry me. All your problems will be solved.”

Dare didn’t know what he had expected Charlotte to suggest, but proposing to him on the steps of Messrs. Dunbridge and Storm was not it. The caught-in-a-whirlpool feeling returned. “Your offer is, of course, based on completely altruistic motives?”

Charlotte smiled a smile that would have brought a lesser man to his knees. “Yes, of course it is. I am ever altruistic. All my friends say that about me. Why, only Monday last, my dear cousin Gillian—you remember her, she was the woman you helped kidnap—my dear cousin Gillian said to me, ‘Char,’ she said, ‘you are the most completely altruistic woman I know,’ and so I am.”

Dare counted silently to ten. “You don’t know what altruistic means, do you?”

“Of course I know!” Charlotte paused for a moment. “An exact definition has, at the moment, slipped my mind, but I am not so ignorant that I am unacquitted with everyday words.”

“Unacquainted.”

“On the contrary, we’ve known each other for five years.”

Dare shook his head. Why he found Lady Charlotte’s habit of mangling the English tongue amusing, he never understood, but he did and unless he took himself off and tended to business, he would no doubt find himself bemused into deep waters.

“Regarding your plan—”

“It’s an excellent one, isn’t it? And it has the happy coincidence of meeting my needs as well, for although I’m sure you’ll be shocked to know that I find myself in immediate need of a husband, the truth is that you will suit me quite admirably.” Charlotte batted long lashes over eyes so blue they would put a bluebell to shame, but Dare hadn’t withstood three weeks of the most intense onslaught of marriage-minded women just to be caught in a snare made up of blue eyes, golden curls, and dimpled cheeks. With an effort he stepped back a few paces and made a courteous bow.

“As generous and selfless as it is, I must decline your offer of marriage. While I wish you the best of luck in finding another victim to your matrimonial plans, experience with the labyrinthine depths of your mind hastens me to state clearly and succinctly that my refusal is binding.”

“But, my lord—”

“You need not continue to prod Cupid into aiming his nuptial arrows at me. I have no intention of marrying now, or anytime in the foreseeable future.”

“If you will just consider the many and varied benefits of marriage to me—”

“I am flattered, but I must decline. Good day, Lady Charlotte.” Dare turned his back and started up the steps to the solicitors’ office, followed by a silent, but bright-eyed Batsfoam.

“Do you know, I think I liked you better when you were hatching nefarious plans against Gillian.”

Dare froze for a second. That episode was a sore spot in his memory, certainly not one he wished to discuss with anyone, least of all Lady Charlotte. He continued up the stairs.