“Charlotte!” Patricia gasped, stopping so abruptly that Caroline trod on her heel. “You can’t mean that Dare didn’t…didn’t…that you and he didn’t…but the way he looked at you! And the way you looked at him! I was sure he…I just cannot believe that he wouldn’t bed you!”

“Shhh,” Charlotte hissed, glancing around her. Although the three women were alone, standing between the foot of the stairs leading to the verandah and the opening to the dark and uninviting maze, one never knew who could be lurking around. “The fact that my husband refused to consummate our marriage is not a subject I wish made public. In fact, it’s truly not any of your business what Dare and I do or do not do, so please forget I mentioned it at all.”

“Char, you can’t mean he hasn’t—” Caroline said at the same time Patricia said, “But, Charlotte—”

“Not another word! Look, there is David gesturing for you. It must be his dance. Go enjoy yourself. Caroline and I will be in momentarily. Do not, under any circumstances, repeat what I just said! I would die of shame if anyone found out that Dare refused…well, I would die if anyone found out.”

Patricia assured her she wouldn’t breathe a word to anyone, and hurried up the steps to fling herself into her betrothed’s arms. Charlotte watched her for a minute, tempted to follow and make sure they spent the allotted time dancing and not sequestered in a dark corner, but quickly dismissed that idea when Caroline put her hand on her arm.

“Char, why?”

“Why what? Oh, why didn’t Alasdair bed me?” Caroline nodded. Charlotte sighed and looked into the darkness while she tried to muster words to explain something she didn’t quite understand herself. “He feels we need to know one another better. He wants me to be…oh, I don’t know what he wants me to be. His friend, I think. He said he wants us to have tender feelings for one another before we engage in connubial calisthenics.”

“That’s rather sweet,” Caroline said with a little smile. “I imagine most men wouldn’t think of wanting to be their wife’s friend before they did their duty by her. He must love you very much if he’s willing to wait until you have similar feelings for him.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “You are a ninny, Caro. He doesn’t love me.”

Caroline’s hand tightened on her arm. “I swear to heaven, Charlotte, if you call me that again, I shan’t be held responsible for my actions!”

“Call you what? A ninny?”

“Yes! I will not tolerate it again!”

“Really?” Charlotte asked with interest, tipping her head as she considered the angry countenance of her friend. “What will you do? Challenge me to a duel? Engage in fisticuffs with me? Tie me to a tree and shoot arrows at me? I’ve seen your archery skills, Caro. I wouldn’t have much to be concerned about there.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I shan’t do any of those things. No, I shall do something much, much worse.”