Page 42 of A Rake's Revenge
“Well, let us not be hasty.” Tisdale gave her an oily smile. “I think, since the gauntlet has been thrown, I am allowed equal time alone with you.”
The thought made Caroline think she might cast up her accounts. “I am sorry to disappoint, but my father is right. I should not have taken a stroll in the gardens. I made a foolish mistake. It would be unseemly for me to repeat it.”
Tisdale narrowed his eyes and then he shrugged. “Fine. No stroll in the gardens. Instead, we will take a carriage ride. Tomorrow afternoon. Just you and I.”
“I do not think—”
“I do,” her father interrupted, “think you should allow Lord Tisdale equal time. A buggy ride in the middle of the day is hardly inappropriate.”
Caroline strove to hide her emotions and keep her voice calm. “In that case, I shall follow your advice once more, Father. I insist on a chaperone.”
“You did not have one with Kendrick.” Tisdale’s voice had a whine to it. “So it is only fair that I enjoy your company alone as well.”
Caroline studied him a moment, an idea beginning to form as she recalled a recent production at the Theatre Royal of Shakespeare’sTaming of the Shrew. If she were actually alone with Tisdale, she could wax venomous about all those things females weren’t supposed to have opinions about, let alone speak of them. The state of the economy. Politics. Women being allowed in Parliament. Women’s liberty. The list went on and on. She would talk incessantly, and if he dared interrupt, she would turn on him like a fishwife.
Caroline smiled demurely. “As you wish, then. I will give my full attention to you tomorrow afternoon.”
But this time, Petruchio wouldn’t win. Kate—or in this case, Caroline—would.
…
Alfred watched Caroline walk away and clenched a fist under the table. He liked women who knew their place. Women who were tractable, amenable, compliant. Women who didn’t question and didn’t have opinions. Women whoobeyedtheir man. Caroline Nash was none of those things, but then her dowry would make up for it. And, of course, there were ways to break that kind of spirit.
He fingered the missive in his coat pocket that had come from Hemsbroke late last night with his messenger. Once this bit of news was released, perhaps Miss Nash wouldn’t be quite so unwilling to wed him after all.
Wave Riderbelonged to Kendrick’s fleet. Alfred had expected that. What was important though, was that the schooner had been spotted just off Dungeness Point the night of the raid. It shouldn’t be long until the authorities put the pieces together.
…
“What the bloody hell do you mean Tisdale is taking Caroline for a carriage ride tomorrow?” Stephan slammed down his pewter goblet on the chart table below deck on theLadyand stared up at Brice.
Brice opened a cabinet door and retrieved another goblet, then pulled the stopper on the brandy bottle and poured himself a measure before he sat down on the opposite bunk. “You needn’t eye me like you are planning to make me your dinner,” he said. “I am just the messenger here.”
“And a bloody slow one.” Stephan felt as edgy as a wolf needing to make a kill. “Get on with it. How did this happen?”
“I am not exactly sure,” Brice answered. “From what I could gather, Tisdale raised havoc with Caroline’s father that she’d been allowed to disappear with you—”
“Allowed?” Stephan nearly growled. “She is old enough to make her own decisions on whom she wants to walk with.”
Brice held up a hand. “Messenger here, remember? Anyway, Tisdale demanded he have equal time alone with her.”
“The hell he will.”
“Her father agreed to it.” Brice hesitated and took a step away from Stephan. “Apparently, Caroline did, too.”
Stephan paused with his drink halfway to his lips. “What?”
“She did not refute anything.” Brice frowned. “In fact, she was quite demure.”
“Demure? Caroline? Are you sure you did not get conked on the head by the boom this afternoon and are suffering a delusion?”
Brice shook his head. “It did seem strange. I wish I’d had a chance to speak to Caroline, but Tisdale stuck to her side as though he were tethered.”
“Which is how I would like to see him.” Stephan grimaced. “Tethered, I mean. Preferably behind a fast-moving coach.”
“Sorry, mate. The only carriage the earl plans to be in is the one with Caroline tomorrow.”
Stephan glowered. “Do you have to rub it in?”
