“Let me see,” Charlotte continued. “You have entirely forgotten our first meeting, during which you—well, never mind that,” she added hastily. “During our second meeting you touched my back in a most improper way, and on our third meeting you lied to Lord Holland, who apparently has some claim to be your friend, finagled your way into this picnic, left us abruptly before introducing your friends, and finally thrust an unkempt child into my lap. I am much inclined to think,” she finished primly, “that there is little you do that escapes remark, and thus for me to have expectations of civility would be past hope!”

Alex noted with appreciation that she said nothing about his hand on her knee. “You are absolutely right,” he said humbly.

Charlotte looked at him. His hand slid a little higher up her leg.

“You are very provoking!” she said, shaking his hand off her knee.

He laughed. “I am out of my depth in two areas.” His right hand captured one of hers and gently bent down her ring finger. “Number one, I have been a father for only a short period, and I don’t feel entirely easy in the role, at least in front of people I don’t know well—”

“I would say the contrary, actually,” Charlotte broke in. “I don’t believe I have ever seen a man who is as easy with the role as yourself.”

“Ah,” Alex said hastily, “that is only because I am forced to act as both mother and nanny and so I appear to be more accomplished than I am.” He did not want to go into the reasons why he abruptly left the group before making introductions. How could one reveal that a perfectly well-bred peer in his thirties had been caught by a wave of jealousy so intense that he had to leave the scene in order to avoid giving an old friend a square right to the jaw?

“Number two,” Alex continued, caressing Charlotte’s middle finger before bending it down. “I didn’t think to meet a woman I wanted to marry on my first evening back in England. It has taken me rather by surprise.” She looked up at that and was met by a look of wry self-irony.

“Ha!” she said. “I know why you want to marry. You have found yourself burdened with a one-year-old child who loathes her nanny.”

“Actually, you are unlike any nanny I have seen. Where is your tight cap?” He ran his free hand through her velvety curls. “And I regret to tell you, madam, that your mouth is far too soft to administer the necessary discipline!” His finger moved to her lower lip.