And she was really putting her mind to this. She'd even started composing lists of her own, the most active of which was called "How to Make Charles Realize He Loves Me."

When Ellie wasn't dwelling on the fact that her husband hadn't yet told her that he loved her or working hard to ensure that he would, she spent her time poring over the financial pages of the newspaper. For the first time in her life, she had real control over her savings, and she didn't want to make a muck of things.

Charles seemed to be spending most of his time plotting ways to drag Ellie back into bed. She never put up more than token resistance, and she only did that because he kept writing up lists to coerce her, and they were always terribly amusing.

He presented her with what she would later declare her favorite one night as she mulled over investments in the study.

FIVE WAYS ELLIE CAN MOVE HERSELF FROM THE STUDY TO THE BEDROOM

1. Walk quickly

2. Walk very quickly

3. Run

4. Smile sweetly and ask Charles to carry her

5. Hop on one foot

Ellie raised her brows over the last one. Charles shrugged. "I ran out of ideas."

"You realize, of course, that now I will have to hop all the way upstairs."

"I would be happy to carry you."

"No, no, you have clearly thrown down the gauntlet. I have no choice. I must hop or forever lose my honor."

"Mmmm, yes," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I can see how you might feel that way."

"Of course if you see me wobble, you may feel free to steady me on my feet."

"Or on your foot, as the case may be."

Ellie tried to nod regally, but the impish smile on her face quite ruined the effect. She stood, hopped to the door, then turned back to her husband and asked, "Is switching feet allowed?"

He shook his head. "It wouldn't be a proper hop."

"Of course," she murmured. "Hmmm. I may need to lean on you from time to time."

He crossed the room and opened the door for her. "I would be delighted to assist you in any way."

"I may need to lean heavily from time to time."

His smile hovered halfway between a grin and a leer. "That would be even more delightful."

Ellie hopped down the hall, switched feet when she thought he wasn't looking, then lost her balance when she moved from the runner carpet to the bare floor. She waved her arms wildly in the air, shrieking with laughter as she tried to stay upright. Charles immediately moved to her side and draped her arm over his shoulder. "Is this better?" he asked, his face remarkably straight.

"Oh, much." She hopped forward.

"That's what you get for switching feet."

"I would never do that," she lied.

"Hmph." He shot her a you-can't-fool-me expression. "Now be careful turning the corner."

"I would never dream of—Oh!" she yelped as she stumbled into the wall.

"Tsk tsk, that's going to cost you."

"Really?" she asked interestedly. "How much?"

"A kiss. Perhaps two."

"I will only agree if I may give you three."

He sighed. "You drive a hard bargain, my lady."

She stood on one tiptoe and kissed his nose. "There is one."

"I think that only counts for one half."

She kissed his lips, her tongue darting out mischievously to tease the corner of his mouth. "There is two."

"And the third?"

"You wouldn't get a third if I hadn't bargained you up so skillfully," she pointed out.

"Yes, but now I've come to expect it, so it had better be good."

Ellie's mouth spread into a slow smile at that challenge. "Lucky for me," she murmured, "that I've learned so much about kissing in the past week."

"Lucky for me," he returned, grinning as she dragged his mouth down to hers. Her kiss was hot and passionate, and he felt it in every nerve of his body. Mostly he felt it in his midsection, which was tightening into such a knot of desire that he had to tear himself away and gasp, "You had better hop fast."

Ellie laughed, and they one quarter-hopped, one quarter-skipped, one quarter-stumbled, and one quarter-ran down the hall. By the time they reached the staircase, they were laughing so hard that Ellie tripped and landed on the bottom step smack on her backside. "Ouch!" she yelped.

"Is everything all right?"

They both turned sheepish faces to Helen, who was standing with Aunt Cordelia in the great hall, looking at them questioningly. "It looked as if you were limping, Ellie," she said. "Then it looked like ... Well, frankly, I don't know what it looked like."

Ellie turned beet red. "He... ah ... I... ah ..."

Charles didn't even bother trying to explain.

Helen smiled. "I see your point exactly. Come along, Cordelia. I believe our newlyweds desire some privacy."

"Newlyweds, hmph!" Cordelia barked. "They're acting like a couple of deranged birds, if you ask me."

Ellie watched as the old lady marched out of the hall, Helen right on her heels. "Well, at least she isn't yelling 'fire' at every opportunity anymore."

Charles blinked. "You're right. I think our myriad accidents in the kitchen may have scared the fire right out of her."

"Thank goodness."

"Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, depending on your viewpoint, it has not done the same for me."

"I'm afraid I don't see your point."

"What I mean," he fairly growled, "is that I am on fire."

Ellie's eyes and her mouth made three perfect O's.