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"Nonetheless, I'ritted his teeth "We need to establish a few rules"

"Well, yes, of course, the world needs a few rules Otherwise, chaos would ensue, and then--"

"Would you stop interrupting me!"

She drew her head back a fraction of an inch "I believe you just interrupted nore that"

Her lips twisted into soht call a sht lend

"I need to get up," Caroline explained "My--" She broke off, not about to say to thiswet "It's da she doubted she was meant to understand and practically slaotten he was still holding, down on a side table Before Caroline had tiainst the table, his right hand was thrust in front of her face

"Thank you," she said with as nity as she could muster, which admittedly wasn't very ain"

"No, sir" She gave him a jaunty salute, an act which didn't see effect on his te your pardon?"

"Salutingall ofseriously?"

Caroline narrowed her eyes, watching him wave his arms wildly as he spoke She'd only known hih to know that this burst of emotion was not characteristic Still, she didn'ther attempts at friendship and civility tossed back in her face like so much dirty bathwater

"Do you want to kno I define serious?" she said in a low, angry voice "Serious is awoo Serious is not an overturned vase and a wet carpet"

He only scowled at her in response, so she added, "And as forto be friendly"

"I don't want to be friends," he bit off

"Yes, I see that now"

"You are here for two reasons, and two reasons only, and you'd best not forget that"

"Perhaps you'd care to elucidate?"

"One: You are here to aid us in the capture of Oliver Prewitt Two--" He cleared his throat and actually blushed before repeating the word "Two: You are here because, after abducting you through no fault of your oell, I owe you that much"

"Ah, so I aarden or in any way be friendly with the servants?"

He glared at her but did not reply Caroline took that response as an affirave him a nod that would have done the queen proud "I see In that case, perhaps you'd best not join me for tea"