Dare stopped polishing and shook his head for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose as he said, “Let’s take that slowly, shall we? In small chunks, so it’s easier to understand. First of all, my title has nothing to do with our future happiness. All that I gained when the title came to me was a mountain of debts I couldn’t possibly pay off in one lifetime, and three estates in such dire circumstances it would take a miracle to make them self-supporting.”

Charlotte smiled sympathetically at her husband. Imagine believing an earldom had nothing to do with happiness. Still, he clearly had some strong feelings on the subject. An indefinable need to comfort him by some wifely means swept over her, generating a bright, shining idea in her mind. She would comfort him! He was upset, and she was his wife; therefore, it was her duty to comfort him. She wondered briefly how to go about doing that since she’d never actually comforted a man before, let alone a husband. Whenever Antonio was upset, he’d just go off to be with his sheep. Still, it couldn’t be that difficult. People, she was sure, were comforted all the time. She was an intelligent woman. If she put her mind to it, she could deduce the proper steps needed to undertake a successful comforting.

“Secondly, you won’t be in town long enough to take the ton by storm.”

Charlotte racked her brain for comforting gestures. From a distant corner of her mind the memory arose of when she was a little child, and of how her mother used to rub her back when she was ill. That was just what he needed! A tender smile graced her lips as she glided over to where Dare stood and placed her palm on his back, gazing up into his eyes with what she hoped looked like wifely concern. Inside, she was sure, it looked like desire, but hopefully he wouldn’t notice it. She was almost certain that desire had no part in general comforting.

“Third, you seem not to be listening at all when I tell you that I’m not a rich man, so I will tell you again: I am not exaggerating, Charlotte. I told you before we wed that you would have to manage with economizing most stringently. I don’t have the money to buy you a new wardrobe, or take you on trips, or any of the myriad other things you will no doubt demand as your due. All the household are doing their part to help, and I expect no less from my wife.”

Charlotte let her fingers wander over the muscled planes of his back, her entire being focused on the sensation of heat that flowed from his flesh through the soft linen of his shirt to her fingertips. She started rubbing small circles on his spine as her mother had done, but soon she was mapping out the terrain of his back with long, languid strokes that made every part of her aware that she was a woman, he was a man, and they were alone together. Legally wed. Able to procreate without censure or condemnation.