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"I beg your pardon?"

"I have this terrible habit, you see"

"Just one?"

"Just one that would offend you, sir," she shot back, her tone not particularly nice "When I take tea with other people, I tend to converse with them And when I converse with people, I'm likely to do so in a polite and friendly manner And when then happens--"

"Sarcasm doesn't become you"

"And when that happens," she continued in a louder voice, "the strangest thing occurs Not all the time, mind you, and probably not with you, Mr Ravenscroft, but I'm sure you wouldn't like to chance it"

"Chance what?"

"Why, beco friends with me"

"Oh, for the love of God," he muttered

"Just push the tea service toward me, if you please"

Blake stared at her for aas she asked

"Would you like a cup to take with you?"

"No," he said perversely "I'll stay"

"The consequences could be deadly"

"It seems to me that the consequences could be even deadlier to lared at hiar And do try to be gentle with the china It's a family heirloom Now that I think of it…"

"Now that you think of what?" she snapped

"I really should do so about the mess on the carpet"

"I'd clean it up myself," she said sweetly, "but you've ordered nored her as he stood up and crossed to the open door "Perriwick!" he bellowed

Perriwick materialized as if Blake had conjured hiht accident," Blake said, waving his hand toward the wet spot on the carpet

"Our invisible guest, you uised interest All Blake did was say, "I beg your pardon?"

"If I ht be so bold as to make a deduction based upon your behavior of the past few days, Mr Ravenscroft--"

"Just get to the point, Perriwick"

"You clearly did not want it to be made public that Miss…ah…Miss…er…shall we call her Miss Invisible--"

"Miss Trent," Caroline supplied helpfully