[ He notices her somewhere between the beginning of the faire and her attempt to hide behind a maypole, which is only so effective even though she's a tiny slip of a thing. It's fine, he tells himself, nothing to be worried about, considering that her behavior during last month's games had made it clear she's not one of the house's more, shall we say, murderously inclined residents. It does beg the question of what she wants out of him, exactly, but he does her the grace of pretending not to notice he's being followed until she speaks up. Her offer gets a slight smile, but he shakes his head, waving a hand in the vendor's direction to signal that the deal is over. ]

Don't kiss him, my darling, [ he tells her, waving a hand in the vendor's direction as he turns his attention to the bracelet on her wrist, ] save your affection for someone more deserving of it.

[ But he does lean across the little display to whisper something into the other man's ear — something about the Nine Hells. Whatever he says, it's enough for the man to nod, indicating to Caroline that the bracelet is hers. And if Astarion shoots the other vendor a sharp look as they step away, so what?

Then, to his stalker new friend: ] —But I appreciate the offer. No secrets at all? Really?