She sank into him. "Oh, Charles. I am so happy you fell out of that tree."

He grinned. "And I am happy you were walking underneath me. Clearly, I have excellent aim."

"And such modesty, too."

"Read me the last item on the list, if you will."

Her cheeks pinkened. "Oh, it's nothing. And it doesn't really matter, since I don't need to make you realize that you love me. As you said, you figured it out all on your own."

"Read it, wife, or I will tie you to the bed."

Her jaw dropped, and she made a strange, choking sort of sound.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. I wouldn't do it tightly."

"Charles!"

He rolled his eyes heavenward. "I suppose you wouldn't know about such things."

"No, it's not that. I... er ... Perhaps you should read item five on my list." She shoved the paper in his direction.

Charles looked down and read, "Number five: Tie him to the—" He dissolved into raucous laughter before he could even utter the b in the word bed.

"It isn't what you think!"

"Darling, if you know what I think, you're far less innocent than I imagined."

"Well, it certainly isn't whatever you meant when you said—Stop laughing, I'll tell you!"

He might have responded, but it was difficult to tell under the force of his laughter.

"All I meant," she grumbled, "was that you seem rather enamored of me when we are ... you know ... and I thought if I could keep you here ..."

He held out his wrists, "I am yours to bind, my lady."

"I was speaking metaphorically!"

"I know," he said with a sigh. "More's the pity."

She tried not to smile. "I should disapprove of such talk.. ·"

"But I'm so endearing," he said with a rakish grin.

"Charles?"

"Yes?"

"My stomach ..."

His face grew serious. "Yes?"

"It feels quite normal."

He spoke carefully. "And by that you mean ... ?"

Her smile was slow and seductive. "Exactly what you think. And this time, I do know what you're thinking. I'm far less innocent than I was a week ago."

He leaned down and captured her mouth in a long and melting kiss. "Thank God for that."

Ellie wrapped her arms around him, reveling in the heat of his body. "I missed you last night," she murmured.

"You weren't even conscious last night," he returned, pulling out of her embrace. "And you're going to have to miss me for a little bit longer."

"What?"

He wiggled away and stood on the floor. "Do you really think I'm such a cur that I would take advantage of you in this condition?

"Actually, I'd been hoping to take advantage of you," she muttered.

"You were afraid I would fail as a husband because I wouldn't be able to control my baser instincts," he explained. "If this isn't an excellent demonstration of control, I don't know what is."

"You don't have to control them with me."

"Nonetheless, you shall have to wait a few days."

"You are a beast."

"You are merely frustrated, Ellie. You'll get over it."

Ellie crossed her arms and glared at him. "Send Judith back in. I think I preferred her company."

He chuckled. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Now get out before I throw something at you."

Chapter 21

Charles's temporary vow of abstinence was just that—temporary—and soon he and Ellie were back to their newlywed habits.

They still had their independent pursuits, however, and one day while Ellie was poring over the financial pages, Charles decided to ride the perimeter of his property. The weather was unseasonably warm, and he wanted to take advantage of the sunshine before it turned too cold to take long rides. He would have liked to bring Ellie along with him, but she didn't know how to ride and adamantly refused to begin lessons until spring, when the weather would be warmer and the ground not quite so hard.

"I shall surely be landing on my behind quite frequently," she had explained, "so I might as well do so when the ground is nice and soft."

Charles chuckled at the memory as he mounted his gelding and took off at an easy trot. His wife certainly had a practical streak. It was one of the things he loved best about her.

Thoughts of Ellie seemed to occupy a great deal of his mind these days. It was getting embarrassing how often people snapped their fingers in front of his face because he was staring off into space. He couldn't help it. All he had to do was think of her and he found himself wearing a silly smile and sighing like an idiot.

He wondered if the bliss of true love ever wore off. He hoped not.

By the time Charles reached the end of the drive, he'd remembered three funny comments Ellie had said the night before, pictured the way she looked when she was giving Judith a hug, and fantasized about what he was going to do with her that night in bed.

That particular daydream made him feel quite warm and left his reflexes a bit dulled, which was probably why he didn't immediately notice when his horse started to grow agitated.

"Whoa there, Whistler. Easy now, boy," he said, pulling back on the reins. But the gelding paid him no attention, snorting in obvious fear and pain.

"What the hell?" Charles leaned down and tried to calm Whistler by patting his long neck. This didn't seem to help, and soon Charles was fighting just to keep his seat.

"Whistler! Whistler! Calm down, boy."

No effect. One minute Charles had the reins in his hands and the next he was flying through the air, with barely time to say, "Damn," before he landed, solid on his right ankle—the same one he'd injured the day he met Ellie.