She nodded emphatically. “Or I can go back to my original plan.”

“Which was?”

“I'd thought to find work at an inn.”

“Not exactly the safest of prospects for a woman alone.”

“I know,” Caroline agreed, “but I really didn't have a choice.”

James stroked his jaw thoughtfully. “You'll be safe here at Seacrest Manor. We're certainly not about to return you to Prewitt.”

“Mr. Ravenscroft hasn't yet agreed to let me stay,” she reminded him. “And this is his house.”

“He will.”

Caroline thought James was being a trifle over-confident. But then again he didn't know about the kiss she and Blake had shared. Blake had seemed rather disgusted by the entire affair.

James turned to face her suddenly. “We'll want you to help us bring your guardian to justice.”

“Yes, Mr. Ravenscroft said as much.”

“Didn't he tell you to call him Blake?”

“Yes, but somehow it seems too …”

Intimate. The word hung in her mind, as did the image of his face. Dark brows, elegantly molded cheekbones, a smile that rarely appeared … oh, but when it did …

It was really embarrassing, Caroline thought, how one of his smiles could make her feel so giddy.

And his kiss! Dear Lord, it had made her feel things that couldn't possibly be good for her sanity. He had leaned toward her, and she'd simply frozen, mesmerized by his heavy-lidded stare. If he hadn't upset the moment by calling her Carlotta, heaven only knew what she would have let him do.

The most amazing thing had been that he had seemed to enjoy the kiss as well. Percy had always said that she was the third-ugliest girl in all Hampshire, but then again Percy was a fool and his taste had always run toward buxom blonds …

“Caroline?”

She looked up sharply.

James's lips were curved into an amused smile. “You're woolgathering.”

“Oh. Terribly sorry. I was just going to say that Mr. … er … I mean Blake already talked to me about helping you arrest Oliver. I must say, it's rather disconcerting to know that he may go to the gallows as a direct result of my involvement, but if, as you say, he has been conducting treasonous activities …”

“He has. I'm sure of it.”

Caroline frowned. “He is a despicable man. It was beastly enough of him to order Percy to attack me, but to endanger thousands of British soldiers … I cannot fathom it.”

James smiled slowly. “Practical and patriotic. You, Caroline Trent, are a prize.”

If only Blake thought so.

Caroline let her teacup clatter into its saucer. She didn't like the direction her thoughts were taking regarding Blake Ravenscroft.

“Ah, look,” James said, standing up rather suddenly. “Our errant host returns.”

“I beg your pardon?”

James gestured toward the window. “He appears to have changed his mind. Perhaps he has decided our company is really not so bad as all that.”

“Or it might just be the rain,” Caroline retorted. “It has begun to drizzle.”