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She averted her gaze with a raised chin. “I am unaccustomed to eating breakfast with someone in such a state of undress, that is all.”

He peered down at his open shirt as if unaware of what he wore until that moment. “My apologies. I grew rather overheated on a quick walk this morning and forgot to button again.”

She stared hard at her toast, then finally managed a bite. The apricots weren’t as satisfying as she’d hoped. Not when all she wanted to do was stare longer at Charles’s gaping shirt.

Her eyes flicked back to him, trailing down the ridges of his neck.

“I will change if you wish me to,” he said through chews of his toast. “Seeing as how I appear to be distracting you.”

A spark of humor glinted in his eyes, but she refused to be embarrassed, standing from the table. “There is no need. I am finished anyway.”

He eyed her full plate. “Returning to your room?”

Marie paused at the door. “I was considering it.”

“I suppose I won’t see you again until morning.”

Did he miss her? Had he felt as lonely as Marie had? If their marriage was to be annulled, she didn’t wish to grow accustomed to seeing him, but perhaps...

“Well, enjoy your time wallowing away.” He paused, then added with an apparent glint in his eye, “and skulking at me from your window.”

Marie had obviously gone mad. Why else would she have ever thought that Charles would miss her, other than to torment her?

“I may as well remain in my bedchamber,” she stated pointedly. “After all, there is nothing out here worthy to capture my attention.”

He smiled amusedly, taking a final bite of his toast and chewing in all of his undressed-glory.

“What are you to do this morning?” she asked. “Bound about the grounds like a directionless pup?”

He leaned back in his seat, lazily propping his elbow against the back of it. “I think I will, actually. Or perhaps I’ll make the short walk to the village to see if Mr. Page has written. You’re welcome to join me if you’d like. Although, the distance might be a bit strenuous for you. It may last longer than an entire five minutes.”

This repartee had to stop at some point, did it not? One of them had to be the bigger person. One of them had to apologize, forgive, and start afresh.

Unfortunately, her pride was louder than her moral compass, so ending their arguments would not begin with her.

“That is a generous offer,” she returned. “However, I do think I ought to remain indoors. It is better for one’s complexion.” She eyed his skin up and down and wrinkled her nose. “Though I take it you care about no such thing.”

In truth, while Charles’s skin was a few shades tanner than most dandies, Marie couldn’t deny that she preferred it. The color gave him a healthy glow—as if the sun had been unable to resist kissing Charles, too.

“You know,” he said with a smile, “I quite like you, Marie. Your little slights and quirks are more enjoyable, now that I know I won’t be required to manage them for the rest of my days.”

“That’s interesting. I was just now thinking the very same about your entire personality.”

He smirked, clearly amused with her comments. He stood from the table, and she raised her chin to maintain his gaze.

“So you’ll not be joining me in the village, then?” he asked.

“No. I think it will be best if we remain apart as much as possible until Mr. Page writes with news.”

“Afraid to fall in love with me, are you?”

She let out a forced laugh. “That is the least of my concerns, Mr. Shepherd.”

“And what is your greatest?”

She leaned toward him with a sickly-sweet smile. “That I will strangle you before I get the chance to annul our marriage.”

He threw back his head, his throat fully visible as it bobbed up and down with his genuine laugh.