Blake stared at her, unable to speak. Of all the reasons that Caroline shouldn't let his sister know she'd been staying at Seacrest Manor, she had to pick the only one that was completely unselfish. She could have said that she worried for her reputation. She could have said that she was afraid that Penelope would turn her over to Oliver. But no, she wasn't worried about all that; she was worried that her actions might hurt him.

He swallowed, suddenly feeling awkward in her presence. Caroline was watching his face, clearly waiting for a reply, and he had no idea what to say. Finally, after she prodded him with a questioning, “Blake?” he managed to get out, “That is most thoughtful of you, Caroline.”

She blinked in surprise. “Oh.”

“Oh?” he echoed, jutting his chin out slightly toward her in a questioning manner.

“Oh. Oh…Oh.” She smiled weakly at him. “I guess I thought you were going to scold me further.”

“I thought I was, too,” he said, sounding just as surprised as she did.

“Oh.” Then she caught herself and said, “Sorry.”

“‘Ohs’ aside, we're going to have to figure out what to do with you.”

“I don't suppose you've a hunting lodge somewhere nearby?”

He shook his head. “I've no place in the region where you can hide. I suppose I could put you in a carriage to London.”

“No!” Caroline replied. She grimaced, a bit embarrassed by the forcefulness of her reply. “I really cannot go to London.”

“Why not?”

She frowned. That was a good question, but she wasn't about to tell him that she'd miss him. Finally she said, “Your sister is going to expect to see me. I'm sure she'll ask me to call.”

“A tricky maneuver indeed, considering that you have no home to which she may send an invitation.”

“Yes, but she doesn't know that. She will certainly ask you for my direction. And then what will you say?”

“I could always say you've gone to London. In general, the truth is always the best option.”

“Wouldn't that be lovely?” she said, sarcasm more than evident in her voice. “With my luck she'll turn around and head back to London and look for me there.”

Blake let out an irritated exhale. “Yes, my sister is obstinate enough to do just that.”

“I suppose it runs in the family.”

He only laughed. “That it does, my dear, but we Ravenscrofts cannot hold a candle to the Trents when it comes to sheer muleheadedness.”

Caroline grumbled, but she didn't contradict him because she knew it was true. Finally, thoroughly irritated with his rather smug smile, she said, “We can argue about our respective bad traits all we want, but that doesn't solve the problem at hand. Where am I to go?”

“I think you'll have to go back to Seacrest Manor. I know I cannot think of a suitable alternative. Can you?”

“But Penelope is there!”

“We shall have to hide you. There is nothing else for it.”