Dare nodded. Yes, he did. He wanted her to admit that she was no better than the rest of the women in Society. He wanted his disillusionment to be complete and inexorably final. He wanted to kill the hunger for her that grew stronger within him each time he saw her. By God, he needed to exorcise himself of her!

“Oh. Well. That. Er…it’s quite simple, actually. You look exceptionally well against me.”

A bubble of laughter threatened his iron control. “I do?”

“Yes.” Charlotte gave him another beardy smile and continued to work nimble fingers down the line of mother of pearl buttons on her purple-and-black breeches.

He resisted the almost overwhelming and completely irrational urge to take her in his arms and kiss away what infinitesimal bit of wits remained about her. “I see. I apologize for my incorrect deduction. I had imagined that your ravishment of me was part of a plan to trap me into marriage.”

Charlotte paused. “Oh?”

“Yes. It had occurred to me—thankfully you have shown me the error in my thinking—that you might have arranged to be discovered with me here.”

Her hand stilled upon the buttons. “Ah.”

“In this room.”

She blinked.

“In a state of extreme undress.”

She licked her strawberry-sweet lips.

“That isn’t the case?”

She raised an outraged chin and shot him a steely look. “I am sorely offended that you could think me capable of such heinous and unworthy acts, Lord Carlisle. You would think a gentleman would be pleased with an offer of ravishment, but no, you have to be obstinate and suspicious and ruin the whole experience! I’m of half a mind to not ravish you at all!”

One heavy gold eyebrow cocked in question.

“But I shall,” she continued, nodding righteously as she resumed work on the buttons. “I shall overlook your petty thoughts this once, but don’t expect me to be so generous next time.”

“So your intention in removing all your clothing and making love to me is not to be discovered, compromised to the point that I will be forced by honor into wedding you?”

“I just said that!”

“Then you don’t mind if I lock this door?” Dare turned the small brass key in the lock and pocketed it.

“Er…” Charlotte watched him warily.

“I thought you wouldn’t. Where would you care for the lovemaking to take place?”

Her lovely blue eyes didn’t even blink. “Er…”

“That couch looks comfortable. Or perhaps you would like to have your wicked way with me on the rug before the fire?”

She glanced at the fire. “Er…”

Dare gave her a scandalized wiggle of his brows as he strolled over to stand next to a large leather armchair. “Don’t tell me you prefer more inventive positions? The armchair, perhaps?”

Charlotte looked with blossoming interest at the armchair. “How could that be possible?”

Dare couldn’t help but laugh. She really was the most refreshing woman he’d ever met, uninhibited, direct, every word and deed unexpected, but he had had enough of playing her game. He had spent well over the few minutes he had allotted to attending her codpiece needs, and his future relied upon his keeping his sister’s soon-to-be aunt satisfied of his character and morality. “Lady Charlotte, I’m afraid I must turn down yet another of your charming but irregular offers. I have left my sister alone too long. If you will forgive me—”