“Something else we have in common,” Lisa said with a laugh, and then glanced past him to the door as Bet appeared with a tea tray in hand. The maid set the tray on the table beside the flowers, and then bent to whisper by her ear, “Harry is arranging for the hack, and Handers has selected one of the largest footmen to accompany us.”

“Thank you,” Lisa murmured.

Nodding, the maid straightened and left the room, leaving them alone.

Once she was gone, Lisa hesitated and then busied herself pouring the tea.

“Thank you,” Charles said as he accepted the cup she then offered him.

“Shall we have a candy too?” Lisa asked picking up the bag.

“Yes, that would be nice,” Charles said, reaching in to take one when she held out the bag. Smiling faintly, he sat back and contemplated the little candy with a shake of the head. “I cannot believe we like so many of the same things. It’s rather nice.”

“Yes,” Lisa agreed, popping one of the candies into her own mouth and considering him as she moved it around with her tongue. They did appear to have a lot in common. That had to be a good thing. Now if he could just manage to stir some passion in her . . .

“What are you thinking?” Charles asked suddenly, a curious smile curving his lips. “You have a very odd look on your face.”

Lisa hesitated, and picked up her tea. She took a sip, and then rather than answer, asked, “My lord, what were you asking me when Robert interrupted us the other day?”

When he hesitated, she said, “I thought perhaps you were in the middle of asking me to be your wife.”

Charles glanced down to his teacup, and then set it down with a sigh and nodded. “In truth, I was.”

Lisa relaxed a bit and nodded. “I thought so.”

They were both silent for a moment and then he raised his eyebrows. “And will you?”

Lisa bit her lip and dropped her eyes. She should have realized this would follow the question, but she didn’t appear to be thinking terribly clearly at the moment. Which was a good deal of the problem. If she could just get some time without Robert hovering nearby, or seducing her, or even just sleeping across the hall from her, she was sure she could figure out what was best to do in this situation. But to get that time she needed to hire a guard and remove any reason for Robert to be at the house. Until she did that, she wouldn’t be able to think and wouldn’t trust any decisions she came to not to be simply knee-jerk reactions to Robert’s effect on her.

“Lisa?” he prodded.

Sighing, she raised her eyes and asked, “Would you mind terribly if I asked for time to consider before answering?”

“Time to consider,” Charles echoed quietly, sitting back.