Page 21 of A Rake's Revenge
“I doubt any woman has ever had a suitor’s challenge answered by staging a bullfight. That would be most unique.”
The quirk faded. “You are a unique woman, Miss Nash.”
He looked so serious that for a moment, Caroline almost thought he meant it, but she knew he was only putting on a show, as she had asked that he do. “Thank you, my lord.”
“I would like for you to call me Stephan.”
Caroline nodded, remembering she had a role to play in this also. “I would like that…Stephan. Please call me Caroline.”
He looked extraordinarily pleased with her response even as another odd sound emerged from the other side of her father. Caroline ignored it and smiled.
She hadn’t realized what a good actor Lord Kendrick was.
…
If he’d needed another reason—which he didn’t—to implicate Kendrick in the ongoing piracy events, Tisdale had just found it. Kendrick was interfering with Alfred securing his future wife. Or, more importantly, his future wife’s dowry.
He wished he could hear what the damn bastard was actually saying, but the rake had managed to outmaneuver him with the seating arrangements as had that other miscreant, Lord Barclay. Tisdale had no choice but to take the chair next to Sir Reginald. As soon as the prince regent arrived tomorrow, he would make sure the seating arrangements would be dealt with. Since Prinny had already approved the betrothal to Caroline Nash, Alfred felt sure the prince would support him.
“I have heard theSea Masterwas built for racing,” Sir Reginald said to him. “Will you be taking her out for trials tomorrow?”
“I am not sure,” Alfred replied. “I will need to confer with Captain Flannery.”
Reginald looked mildly surprised. “You will not be captaining the boat?”
“I have not decided yet.”
“Ah.” The knight gestured toward Kendrick with his thumb. “I know the marquis will be at the helm ofLady of Fortune.”
Alfred frowned. Was Caroline’s father trying to taunt him? “I doubt I have anything to fear from that. Kendrick’s boat is heavier and has a wider beam which will make it slower.”
Reginald eyed him. “I was thinking perhaps you would gain more favor with my daughter if she saw you at the wheel.”
Did Caroline’s father approve the challenge the marquis had made? The knight had picked up the glove before Alfred could respond, although admittedly, he had been in no hurry to do so himself. The earl narrowed his eyes. Did Sir Reginald actually support Kendrick’s suit? His title outranked Alfred’s, even if the man was near bastard born. Caroline’s father might be just greedy enough to unload his daughter to the highest bidder, in a manner of speaking. Alfred felt a white-hot rage begin to burn in the pit of his stomach. That couldn’t happen. He needed the damn dowry. Just then, he heard Caroline laugh at something Kendrick must have said. Alfred managed to keep the bellow from emerging by turning it into a rather loud, rasping cough.
“You have a point, Nash,” he managed to say between clenched teeth.
Sir Reginald nodded. “I think I do.”
Damn Kendrick for interfering with Alfred’s plans. Now the regatta had taken on a new importance. If Caroline Nash were going to look favorably on the winner, then the winner would have to be Alfred.
And he would win, even if it meant sabotaging theLady of Fortune.
Chapter Eight
“I think you pulled off last night very well,” Brice said to Stephan the next morning as they were swabbing the deck from the overnight salt residue of the ocean air.
“From the noises Tisdale was making, I expected him to come charging at me like a mad beast when I left.”
“WithCaroline,” Brice added.
Stephan grinned. “That was rather the crowning moment.” Not that it hadn’t taken some maneuvering. Sir Reginald had been sitting on the other side of him, so he had to be careful what he said. Stephan knew the man was astute enough to be suspicious of the sudden interest in his daughter. He also knew Tisdale would be putting words in Prinny’s ear just as soon as he could get a moment alone with the regent. Stephan had to press his suit more openly among the guests so there would be no doubt that two men were vying for Caroline Nash’s hand. Aside from scandalous gossip, thetonloved nothing so much as the possibility of a duel. The expectation would lend excitement throughout the duration of the house party and would, quite possibly, be the most talked-about event for the entire summer. Stephan was banking on the fact that Prinny would be most hesitant to spoil that possibility. “I certainly hope I made my point.”
Brice wiggled both brows. “I would say walking Caroline up the stairs to her room definitely made the point.”
“That was Caroline’s idea.”
Brice laughed. “Why does that not surprise me?”
