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"Of course," Penelope said "Here, sit by me"

Caroline shook her head "I'd rather stand, thank you

"As you wish"

"Do you knohere Blake is?" Caroline asked, her posture as regal as a queen's "I wish to say this only once"

"I'ht here"

Caroline whipped her head around Blake was standing in the doorway, his body soid and weary at the same time His cheeks were touched with color, and she wondered if he'd been walking in the chill night air

"Good I would like to say soave each of the roolance and then finally said, "I do not require a husband I certainly do not require a husband who does not require a wife All I wish is to be allowed to re, until my twenty-first birthday"

"But Caroline!" Penelope protested "These gentlemen have coht"

Caroline sed She didn't have much in life, but she did have her pride, and she wasn't about to let Blake Ravenscroft huht at him even as she addressed her words to his sister "Lady Fairwich, these gentle?" Blake asked

Caroline glared at hi what devil had proe "Nothing whichvoice

Their eyesabout their encounter on the beach The difference was that only Caroline knew she was lying

Her ti to her Every minute of every encounter was held close to her heart

She blinked back tears Soon she'd be gone, and all she'd have to keep her warm inside were memories There would be no man to hold her, no friends to tease her, no seaside manor that had, in just a few short weeks, becos she would miss, the absence that would hurt the most was that of Blake's ses…And then when he actually laughed, the pure joy of the soundnow His face was hard, and he was glaring at her as if she were soet out of the roo to make an utter fool of herself "Excuse o now!" Penelope exclai to her feet

Caroline didn't turn around as she said, "I've said what I ca?"

"Out"

"Caroline"

It was Blake's voice, and just the sound of it ed to say Perhaps it was a rude reply, but it was the best she could do

"It's dark out Or hadn't you noticed?"

"I' out to look at the stars"