She made a face. "That was the most maudlin thing I've ever said, wasn't it?"
"I probably haven't known you long enough to make that judgment, but given your rather plainspoken nature, I would venture to agree."
"Well, I don't care. I meant it." She threw her arms around him and held tight. "I don't know how it happened, because I never expected to fall in love with you, but I did, and if it makes my stomach feel better, then so be it."
In her arms Charles shook with laughter.
"Is love supposed to be this much fun?" Ellie asked.
"I doubt it, but I don't plan to complain."
"I thought I was supposed to feel tortured and agonized and all that rot."
He took her face between his hands and gazed at her seriously. "Since you became my wife, you've been seriously burned, suffered a massive case of food-poisoning, and I won't even begin to list Claire's many transgressions against you. I should think you've paid your dues in the realm of torture and agony."
"Well, I did feel agonized and tortured for a moment or two," she admitted.
"Really? When was that?"
"When I realized I loved you."
"The notion was that unpalatable?" he teased.
She looked down at her hands. "I remembered that awful list you wrote before we married, about how you wanted a wife who would look the other way when you strayed."
He groaned. "I was insane. No, I wasn't insane. I was merely stupid. And I just didn't know you."
"All I could think about was how I could never be the passive, accepting wife you wanted, and how much it would hurt if you were unfaithful." She shook her head. "I could swear I could hear my heart breaking."
"That will never happen," he assured her. Then his expression grew suspicious. "Wait just one second. Why did this give you only a moment or two of agony? I should think the prospect of my being unfaithful would be worth at least a full day of heartbreak."
Ellie laughed. "I was only agonized until I remembered who I was. You see, I've always been able to get what I want if I work hard enough for it. So I decided to work hard for you."
Her words were something less than poetry, but Charles's heart sang nonetheless.
"Oh Oh Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed. "I even made a list."
"Trying to beat me at my own game, were you?"
"Trying to win you at your own game. It's in the top drawer of my writing desk. Go fetch it so I may read it to you."
Charles bounded off the bed, oddly touched that she had adopted his habit of making lists. "Shall I read it to myself, or do you want to read it aloud?" he asked.
"Oh, I can—" Her expression froze, and she turned quite red. "Actually, you can read it if you like. To yourself."
He found the list and returned to her side. This was going to be interesting if she'd put something on it so racy that she was embarrassed to read it aloud. He looked down at her neat handwriting and carefully numbered sentences and then decided to torture her. He handed her the list and said, "I really think you ought to read it yourself. After all, it's your debut list."
She turned even redder, which he hadn't thought possible but found very entertaining nonetheless. "Very well," she muttered, snatching the paper from his hands. "But you may not laugh at me."
"I don't make promises I cannot keep."
"Fiend."
Charles leaned back against the pillows, resting his head in his hands, his elbows bent out to the side. "Do begin."
Ellie cleared her throat. "Ahem. This list is titled: 'How To Make Charles Realize He Loves Me.' "
"Amazingly enough, the dolt managed to figure it out all on his own."
"Yes," Ellie said, "the dolt did."
He stifled a smile. "I won't interrupt again."
"I thought you said you don't make promises you cannot keep."
"I shall try not to interrupt again," he amended.
She shot him a disbelieving look, then read, " 'Number One: Impress him with my financial acumen.' "
"I've been impressed with that all along."
" 'Number Two: Demonstrate how capably I can run the household.'"
He scratched his head. "Much as I appreciate the more practical aspects of your personality, these aren't very romantic suggestions."
"I was still warming to the task," she explained. "It took a bit of time to get into the true spirit of the endeavor. Now then, 'Number Three: Have Mrs. Smithson send over more silk lingerie."
"Now that is a suggestion I can endorse without reservation."
She looked at him sideways, barely turning her head away from the list in her hands. "I thought you weren't going to interrupt."
"I said I would try, and that doesn't qualify as an interruption. You were quite finished with your sentence."
"Your verbal dexterity amazes me."
"I'm delighted to hear it."
" 'Number Four: Make certain he realizes how good I am with Judith so that he will think I will make a good mother.' " She turned to him with a concerned expression. "I don't want you to think that is the only reason I spend time with Judith, though. I love her dearly."
He covered her hand with his own. "I know. And I know that you will be a superb mother. It warms me inside just thinking about it."
Ellie smiled, ridiculously pleased by his compliment. "You shall be an excellent father as well. I am certain of it."
"I must confess that I had never given the matter much thought beyond the simple fact that I would need an heir, but now..." His eyes grew misty. "Now I realize there is something more. Something quite amazing and beautiful."