"Don't make fun of me!" she snapped.

The arm around her tightened and he rolled her onto her back and into his body. "Silly little freckle-face!" he said. "How could I help loving you? When you first ran head-on into me at that dreary come-out ball, you bowled me off my feet. I was completely enchanted, and have been ever since. Don't you know how you have turned my world upside down? I thought it obvious enough. I have followed you around to every social function of this infernal Season like a lap dog just because I was bursting so with pride to display you as mine."

"What about that wager?" she asked doubtfully.

"Ah, you know about that, do you?" he said. "Well, touché, my love. What about yours?"

"Oh," she said. "Well, that did not make any difference. I loved you regardless."

"And I loved you regardless," he said.

"Really?"

"Really. And I will add this. I believe that was the most fortunate double wager ever made, my love."

"Oh."

"Now, will you let me sleep, Henry?" he asked wearily, peeking at her through one half-closed eyelid. "I have been living a celibate life for so long-with one memorable exception-that I fear I shall have to take this marriage very gradually again for a while. Advancing age, you know."

"No," she said. "I want to start finding out what pleases you. Is it this?" She leaned across him and blew a light kiss on his neck where it joined his shoulder.

"Minx," he commented. "I should have let you shoot Cranshawe and been hauled off to Newgate."

Iron-hard hands suddenly grasped her hips, and she found herself lifted up and deposited on top of his body.

"This might prove the death of me, my love," he sighed, "but I'll show you."

"Absurd!" she murmured into his ear.