"If I'm going to marry you—"
"You already agreed to do so," he said, his voice sounding very dangerous.
"I realize that, and I'm not one to break my word." Ellie swallowed, realizing that that was exactly what she was threatening to do. "But I cannot marry you unless I have your agreement that we ... that we ..."
"That we not consummate the marriage?" he finished for her flatly.
"Yes!" she said with a relieved rush of air. "Yes, that's it exactly."
"Out of the question."
"It wouldn't be forever," Ellie said quickly. "Just until I'm used to ... marriage."
"Marriage? Or me?"
"Both."
He was quiet for a full minute.
"I'm not asking much," Ellie finally said, desperate to break the silence. "I don't want a lavish allowance. I don't need jewels or dresses—"
"You need dresses," he cut in.
"All right," she agreed, thinking that it would be awfully nice to wear something that wasn't brown. "I do need dresses, but really, nothing more."
He leveled a hard stare in her direction. "I need more."
She gulped. "And you shall have it. Just not right away."
He tapped his fingertips together. It was a mannerism that had already become uniquely his in her mind. "Very well," he said, "I agree. Provided that you grant me a boon as well."
"Anything. Well, almost anything."
"I assume that you mean to let me know when you are ready to make our marriage a true one."
"Er... yes," Ellie said. She hadn't really thought about it. It was hard to think about anything when he was sitting across from her, staring at her so intently.
"First of all, I must insist that your participation in the marital act is not unreasonably withheld."
Ellie's eyes narrowed. "I say, you haven't studied the law, have you? This sounds terribly legal."
"A man in my position must beget an heir, Miss Lyndon. It would be foolish of me to enter into such an agreement without your assurance that our abstinence would not be a permanent state of affairs."
"Of course," she said quietly, trying to ignore the unexpectedly sad feeling in her heart. She'd thought that she might have aroused a deeper passion in him. She should have known better. He had other reasons for kissing her. "I—I will not make you wait forever."
"Good. And now for the second part of my stipulation."
Ellie didn't like the look in his eyes.
He leaned forward. "I reserve the right to try to convince you otherwise."
"I don't catch your meaning."
"No? Come here."
She shook her head. "I don't think that is a very good idea."
"Come here, Eleanor."
His use of her given name shocked her. She hadn't given him permission to do so—and yet, she had agreed to marry him, so she supposed she shouldn't quibble.
"Eleanor," he said again, clearly growing impatient with her wool-gathering. When she didn't respond yet again, he reached out, grasped her hand, and yanked her over a mahogany table and back into his lap.
"Lord Billing—"
His hand covered her mouth as his lips found her ear. "When I said I reserved the right to try to convince you otherwise," he whispered, "I meant this."
He kissed her again, and Ellie lost all power to think. Abruptly, he cut the kiss off, leaving her shaking. He smiled. "Fair enough?"
"I... ah ..."
He seemed to enjoy her befuddlement. "It's the only way I'm going to agree to your request."
She nodded jerkily. After all, how often was he actually going to want to kiss her? Stumbling, she rose to her feet. "I had best be getting home."
"Indeed." Charles looked out the window. The weather had cleared, but the sun was beginning to set. "As for the rest of the particulars of our bargain, we can work them out as we go along."
Ellie's mouth opened slightly in surprise. "Particulars?"
"I assumed a woman of your sensibilities would want her duties spelled out."
"You will have 'duties' as well, I presume."
Charles's mouth turned up into an ironic half-smile. "But of course."
"Good."
He took her arm and walked her to the door. "I shall have a carriage bring you home and fetch you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" she gasped.
"I haven't much time to dawdle."
"Don't we need a license?"
"I have one. I need only to fill in your name."
"Can you do that?" she gasped. "Is that legal?"
"One can do quite a bit if one knows the right people."
"But I will need to prepare. To pack." To find something to wear, she added silently. She had nothing suitable for marrying an earl.
"Very well," he said briskly, "the day after tomorrow."
"Too soon." Ellie planted her hands on her hips in an attempt to look firm.
He crossed his arms. "Three days hence, and that is my final offer."
"I believe we have a bargain, my lord," Ellie said with a smile. She had spent the last five years clandestinely wheeling and dealing on the 'change. Words like final offer were comfortable and familiar. Much more so than marriage.
"Very well, but if I must wait three days I shall demand something in return."
She narrowed her eyes. "It isn't very gentlemanly to agree to a bargain and then attach further terms."
"I believe that is exactly what you did as pertains to the consummation of our marriage."