“I…see.” Actually, she didn't, but she was so happy she hadn't stuttered she didn't much care.

The countess sighed. “If Blake is to be Viscount Darnsby, which is not entirely unlikely, then he'll have to marry and produce an heir. If you live in this area, then I'm sure you are aware he is a confirmed bachelor.”

“Actually, I don't really know him very well at all.” Caroline wondered if she sounded just a bit too determined to make that point, so she added, “Just at—at local functions and all that. You know, county dances and the like.”

“Really?” the countess asked with undisguised interest. “My brother has attended a provincial county dance? The mind boggles. I suppose that next you're going to try to tell me that the moon recently crashed into the channel.”

“Well,” Caroline added, swallowing rather painfully, “he only attended once. It's a…small community here near Bournemouth, and so naturally I know who he is. Everyone knows who he is.”

The countess was silent for a moment, and then she abruptly said, “You say my brother's house isn't very far?”

“Why no, my lady. It shouldn't take more than a quarter of an hour to walk there.” Caroline eyed the trunks. “You'll have to leave your things behind, of course.”

The countess waved her hand in the air in what Caroline was now terming the Ravenscroft wave. “I shall simply have my brother send his men to fetch them later.”

“Oh, but he—” Caroline started coughing wildly, trying to cover up the fact that she'd been about to blurt out that Blake employed only three servants, and of them, only the valet was strong enough to do any heavy lifting.

The countess whacked her on the back. “Are you quite all right, Miss Dent?”

“Just—just swallowed a bit of dust, that's all.”

“You sounded quite like a thunderstorm.”

“Yes, well, I am occasionally given to fits of coughing.”

“Really?”

“Once I was even rendered mute.”

“Mute? I can't imagine.”

“Neither could I,” Caroline said quite honestly, “until it happened.”

“Well, I'm certain your throat must be terribly sore. You must accompany us to my brother's home. A spot of tea will be just the thing to restore you.”

Caroline coughed again—this time for real. “No no no no no no no,” she said, rather more quickly than she'd have liked. “That is really not necessary. I would hate to impose.”

“Oh, but you wouldn't be imposing. After all, I need you to direct us to Seacrest Manor. Offering you tea and a bit of sustenance is the very least I can do to repay your kindness.”

“It's really not necessary,” Caroline made haste to say. “And the directions to Seacrest Manor are quite simple. All you have to do is follow the—”

“I have a terrible sense of direction,” the countess interrupted. “Last week I got lost in my own home.”

“I find that difficult to believe, Lady Fairwich.”

The countess shrugged. “It's a large building. I've been married to the earl for ten years now and I still haven't set foot in the east wing.”