“Do you?” he asked doubtfully.

“Yes, I thought to put all of your scientific treatises together, and to group the biographies onto one shelf, and, well, I'm sure you see my idea. It will be ever so much easier to find your books.”

“It certainly has to be easier than it is now, with everything on the floor.”

Caroline scowled at him. “I'm doing you a tremendous favor. If you cannot be grateful, at the very least you could contrive not to be quite so un-grateful.”

“Very well, I profess my undying and eternal gratitude.”

“That didn't sound terribly sincere,” she muttered.

“It wasn't,” he admitted, “but it will have to do. Here we are.” He set her down on a sofa. “Shall we elevate your leg?”

“I don't know. I've never twisted an ankle before. Is that what one is meant to do?”

He nodded and piled soft pillows under her leg. “It reduces the swelling.”

“Bother the swelling. It's the pain I'd like to reduce.”

“They go hand in hand.”

“Oh. How long will I have to remain like this?”

“At least for the rest of the day, I should think. Perhaps tomorrow as well.”

“Hmmph. That is perfectly dreadful. I don't suppose you could fetch me a spot of tea.”

Blake drew himself back and looked at her. “Do I look like a nursemaid?”

“Not at all,” she replied, clearly holding back a giggle. “It's just that Mrs. Mickle has gone to the village after preparing that lovely breakfast, heaven only knows where your butler is, and I don't think your valet fetches tea.”

“If I can fetch it, he damned well can, too,” Blake muttered.

“Oh, good!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Then you'll get some for me?”

“I suppose I must. And how the devil have you come to be on such good terms with my servants in only one day?”

She shrugged. “Actually, I've only met Mrs. Mickle. Did you know she has a nine-year-old granddaughter who lives in the village? She bought her the loveliest doll for her birthday. I should have loved a doll like that when I was a girl.”

Blake shook his head in amazement. Mrs. Mickle had been working for him for nearly three years, and she'd never mentioned that she had a grand-daughter. “I'll be right back with that tea,” he said.

“Thank you. And don't forget to make enough for yourself as well.”

He stopped in the doorway. “I won't be joining you.”

Caroline's face fell. “You won't?”

“No, I…” He groaned. He'd done battle against some of the world's most devious criminals, but he was powerless in the face of her frown. “Very well, I'll join you, but only for a short while.”

“Wonderful. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. And you'll find that tea does wonders for your disposition.”

“My disposition!”

“Forget I mentioned it,” she mumbled.

Mrs. Mickle was nowhere to be found when Blake reached the kitchen. After hollering for the house-keeper for a minute or so, he remembered that Caroline had said she had gone to town.