“I do hope his uncle was a little more cheerful than he is.”

“Oh, Mr. Ravenscroft wasn't always so ill-tempered. Why, when he was a young man—”

“Perriwick,” Blake roared, “you are perilously close to being tossed out without a reference.”

“Mr. Ravenscroft!” Caroline said reprovingly. “You cannot think to dis—”

“Oh, do not worry, Miss Trent,” Perriwick interrupted. “He threatens to terminate my employment here nearly every day.”

“This time I mean it,” Blake ground out.

“He says that every day, too,” Perriwick said to Caroline, who rewarded him with a giggle.

“I am not amused,” Blake announced, but no one seemed to be listening to him.

“I'll just move this to the other room,” Perriwick returned, piling the teacups back on the tray. “The service will be in the green room, should you desire to partake.”

“I didn't even get a sip,” Caroline murmured as she watched the butler disappear into the hall. “He is quite—Oh!”

Without a word, Blake scooped her up into his arms and thundered out of the room. “If you want tea,” he growled, “then you'll get tea. Even if I have to follow that damned butler to Bournemouth.”

“I had no idea you could be so agreeable,” she said in a wry voice.

“Don't push me, Miss Trent. In case you hadn't noticed, my temper is hanging by a very fine thread.”

“Oh, I noticed.”

Blake stared at her in disbelief. “It's a wonder someone hasn't killed you before now.” He strode across the hall, Caroline clutching his shoulders, and into the green room.

No sign of the tea service.

“Perriwick!” Blake bellowed.

“Oh, Mr. Ravenscroft!” came the butler's disembodied voice.

“Where is he?” Caroline could not help asking, twisting her head to look behind her.

“Lord only knows,” Blake muttered, then yelled, “Where the devil—Oh, there you are, Perriwick.”

“You do creep up on a soul,” Caroline said with a smile.

“It's one of my most useful talents,” Perriwick replied from the doorway. “I took the liberty of moving the tea service to the blue room. I thought Miss Trent might enjoy a view of the ocean.”

“Oh, I should like that above all else,” Caroline said with obvious delight. “Thank you, Perriwick. You are ever so thoughtful.”

Perriwick beamed.

Blake scowled.

“Is there anything else I can do to see to your comfort, Miss Trent?” Perriwick inquired.

“She's fine,” Blake growled.

“Clearly, she—”

“Perriwick, isn't the west wing on fire?”

Perriwick blinked, sniffed the air, and stared at his employer in dismay. “I do not understand, sir.”

“If there is no fire that needs putting out,” Blake said, “then surely you can find some other task to complete.”

“Yes, of course, Mr. Ravenscroft.” With a small bow, the butler left the room.

“You shouldn't be so mean to him,” Caroline said.

“You shouldn't tell me how to run my household.”

“I wasn't doing any such thing. I was merely telling you how to be a nicer person.”

“That is even more impertinent.”