Page 29 (1/2)

The water came to a boil, and Blake poured it into the china teapot, taking a sniff of the fragrant aro a sar on the tray, he picked up the service and headed back to the drawing roo rather soothing in perfor to have to get it through her stubborn little skull that he wasn't going to play nurse at Seacrest Manor

He didn't want to act like some lovesick puppy, he didn't want Caroline to think he was acting like a lovesick puppy, and he certainly didn't want Ja like a lovesick puppy

It didn't matter that he wasn't the least bit lovesick James would never let him live it down

Blake turned the last corner and headed into the drawing room, but when his eyes fell upon the sofa, there was an ee mess on the floor

And then he heard a rather sheepish voice say, "It was an accident I swear"

Chapter 8

quaff (verb) To drink deeply; to take a long draught

I have found that when a gentlerows ill-tempered, oftentimes the best antidote is to invite him to quaff a cup of tea

--From the personal dictionary of Caroline Trent

Freshly cut floere strewn on the floor, a priceless vase was overturned but thankfully not broken, and a wet stain was seeping across Blake's very new, very expensive Aubusson carpet

"I just wanted to smell them," Caroline said from her position on the floor

"You were supposed to stay still!" Blake yelled

"Well, I know that but--"

"No ‘buts’!" he roared, checking to see that her ankle wasn't twisted in some hideous fashion

"There is no need to shout"

"I'LL SHOUT IF I--" He stopped, cleared his throat, and continued in a more normal tone "I will shout if I damned well please, and I will speak like this if I damned well please And if I want to whisper--"

"I'"

"May I re I want?"

"You don't need to re tone needled at hi to re to let ratitude--"