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Blake frowned The da for Caroline Perriwick may have been discreet, but he was dae

Penelope looked to her brother with questioning eyes "Are you hungry?"

"Er…yes, I thought to have a bit of an afternoon snack"

She lifted the lid off of one of the platters, revealing an enormous roast ham "This is quite a snack"

Perriwick's lips stretched into a sickly sweet s substantial now, since you requested such light fare for supper"

"How thoughtful," Blake growled He'd bet his front teeth that that hainally been intended for supper Perriwick and Mrs Mickle were probably planning on sending up all the good food to Caroline and feeding gruel to the "real" occupants of Seacrest Manor They certainly had made no secret of their disapproval when Blake had informed them of Caroline's new domicile

Perriwick turned to Penelope as he set the tray down on a table "If I ht be so bold, my lady--"

"Perriwick!" Blake roared "If I hear the phrase ‘if I oing to toss you into the channel!"

"Oh dear," Penelope said "Perhaps he does have the fever, after all Perriwick, what do you think?"

The butler reached for Blake's forehead, only to have his hand nearly bitten off "Touch me and die," Blake snarled

"A bit cranky this afternoon, eh?" Perriwick said, grinning

"I was perfectly fine until you ca rather strangely all afternoon"

Perriwick nodded regally "Perhaps we ought to leave hi"

"Very well" Penelope followed the butler to the door "We shall leave you alone But if I find out you haven't taken a nap, I'ry with you"

"Yes, yes," Blake said hurriedly, trying to usher them out of the rooht sleeper"

Perriwick let out a loud snort that was definitely not in keeping with his usual dignified ainst the ith a huge sigh of relief "Good Christ," he said to hi fool before my thirtieth birthday"

"H room "I'd say you're well on your way already"

He looked up to see Caroline standing in the doorway, an annoyingly huge grin on her face "What do you want?" he bit off

"Oh, nothing," she said innocently "I just wanted to tell you that you were right"

His eyes narrowed suspiciously "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say I've discovered the hu step forward

But she appeared unintihed so hard," she said, grabbing the tray of food

"Caroline, do you value your neck?"