At least the gentleman seemed lucid enough to actually listen to her, Caroline thought as she watched his significant flailings minimize to something much more useful. She’d be willing to bet he’d make a terrible sailor, likely wouldn’t even last an hour aboard her brother’s ship.

The last thing Caroline had expected to come from his lips as he fought himself out was an apology for the last time their paths crossed. Not that anything could really excuse him from his behavior then, she almost rolled her eyes. But the mention of the pink letters scandal did capture her attention and for a moment she wondered if perhaps he were actually telling the truth. Both Shawn and Toni had gotten caught up in the whole sordid affair and been quite unlike themselves. She supposed it did explain a degree of Mr. Kirke’s behavior that day, should have picked up on it at the time, but still neither of her brothers had acted quite as doltish as the man before her had. “I did.” Caroline replied keeping her tone carefully cool as he finally extracted himself from the tree. Her eyes watched him skeptically.

“Oh, believe me, Mr. Kirke, that is certainly something you are safe from.” Keeping anything he’d said from that meeting to heart was the least sane thing she could think to do.