Caroline gritted her teeth. Her experience the previous night was the closest she'd felt to being loved in years. To have him say he was sorry it had happened was unbearable. “If you apologize again I shall scream.”

“Caroline, don't be—”

“I mean it!”

He nodded. “Very well. I'll leave you alone then.”

“Ah yes,” she said with a wave of her arm, “my oh-so-fascinating life. There is so much to do here, I really don't know where to start. I thought I might wash my hands, and after that my toes, and if I'm really ambitious I might attempt my back.”

He frowned. “Would you like me to bring you a book?”

Her demeanor changed instantly. “Oh, would you please? I don't know where I left that pile I was planning to bring up yesterday.”

“I'll find them.”

“Thank you. When should I…ah…expect your carriage?”

“I suppose I shall have to order the carriage a bit before half three, so why don't you be ready on the hour for me to spirit you to the stables?”

“I can make it to the stables on my own. You'd do better to make certain that Penelope is occupied on the other side of the house.”

He nodded. “You're right. I will tell the groom to expect you on the hour.”

“Is everyone aware of our deception, then?”

“I thought I might be able to limit it to the three house servants, but now it appears as if the stable staff will have to be in on the secret, as well.” He took a step to leave, then turned around and told her, “Remember, be on time.”

She glanced around with a dubious expression. “I don't suppose you've any clocks here.”

He handed her his pocket watch. “Use this. It will need to be wound in a few hours, though.”

“You'll bring those books?”

He nodded. “Never let it be said that I'm not the most gracious of hosts.”

“Even when you relegate the occasional guest to the washing room?”

“Even then.”

At precisely four o'clock that afternoon, Caroline knocked on the front door of Seacrest Manor. Her journey to that spot had been rather bizarre, to say the least. She'd sneaked out of the washing room, down the servants' stairs, dashed across the lawn at precisely three o'clock, hopped up into the carriage, and proceeded to ride about aimlessly until the groom returned to the house at four.

It certainly would have been more direct to have exited through Blake's bedroom and gone down the main stairs, but after spending all day with no company save for a washbasin and a tub, Caroline didn't mind a bit of excitement and scenery.

Perriwick answered the door in record time, winked at her, and said, “It's a delight to see you again, Miss Trent.”

“Miss Dent,” she hissed.

“Right,” he said, saluting her.

“Perriwick! Someone might see.”

He looked furtively about. “Right.”

Caroline groaned. Perriwick had developed a bit too much of a taste for subterfuge.