Page 49 of A Rake's Revenge
“Four of them could not have come loose all at once.” Stephan sank back on his heels. “This smells of sabotage.”
“I agree,” Brice answered, “and my number one suspect would be Tisdale, especially after the challenge he issued at dinner the other night.”
Stephan nodded. He didn’t need to be reminded of the idiotic suggestion that Caroline was the regatta’s real prize. Nor could he forget the conversation from last night. Tisdale would be taking Caroline sailing. But that wasn’t going to prevent him from tailing Tisdale when he took Caroline out, just like he’d done with the carriage ride.
“I wonder when he did it,” Brice said.
Stephan stood and looked across the water to where theSea Mastersat tied to the dock cleats. A crew member was swabbing the deck, and Stephan could see the captain moving about. There was no sign of Tisdale, but that wasn’t surprising since he usually didn’t put in an appearance until the ship was readied and prepared to leave the dock.
Brice stood, too, and followed his gaze. “Tisdale must have had one of his crew sneak over and do the dirty work.”
“Doubtful.” Stephan grimaced when Brice gave him a questioning look. “Tisdale is no seaman, but Flannery is. He would not knowingly put another ship’s crew in danger.”
“Even if it meant winning?” Brice asked.
“Winning a trophy or even sharing the purse means nothing if he cheated to do it.” Stephan made a half smile. “Sailors are a superstitious lot, remember. No man is master of the sea. A sailor follows an unwritten law to give aid when needed, even to his worst enemy. To deliberately sabotage a boat would be to invite the wrath of Neptune.”
Brice grinned at him. “You sound almost poetic, old boy. Are you telling me you believe in Roman mythology?”
Stephan shrugged. “Who is to say? I have too often seen a tempest spring up on what should have been a calm day.”Like the day his brother Devon had drowned. The morning had been clear, the breeze light, and the proverbial “red in the morning, sailors take warning” not in evidence. They’d sailed out into the Channel, not expecting the wind to suddenly shift and whip the water into a frenzy, capsizing their small boat…
“Sorry.” Brice put a hand on his shoulder. “I did not mean to bring up bad memories.”
Stephan shook his head to clear it. “Yes, well, I cannot change what happened.”
“Who do you think did this?” Brice asked, returning to the subject. “Tisdale can hardly discern a tiller from a rudder.”
Stephan gestured toward the commercial dock and the streets beyond. “There are unscrupulous men everywhere.”
“True enough,” Brice said. “I will start sleeping on board, in case Tisdale’s flunkies try anything else.”
“You cannot be on board every hour. Besides, your switching from your comfortable hotel room to the boat would be too obvious. We really do not want to let Tisdale know we are aware of the problem.”
“You have a point.”
“And the prince still has a number of events we have to attend, not to mention those interminable dinners. As you reminded me last night, he would not take kindly to your absence.”
“Those long dinners would be the perfect time for Tisdale’s blackguards to come on board, not to mention a perfect alibi for Tisdale,” Brice said.
“I will send for Eric,” Stephan answered.
“As big as Eric is, he would certainly make a ruffian think twice about accosting him,” Brice said, “but he is in Kent.”
“Actually, he is not.” Stephan thought quickly as to what excuse he could make for Eric being nearby. “Since he met me in Newhaven to deliver an update about affairs in Kent, I thought it might be a good idea for him to stay in the area to act as a relay in case I needed to send word home.” It was only a half truth, but at least it wasn’t a complete lie. For Brice’s sake, he did not need to know about Stephan’s involvement with the pirate raids. Thankfully, Brice didn’t question the explanation.
“Still. Until he can get here, I think one of us should stay on board.”
“Agreed,” Stephan answered and grinned suddenly. It was as good a time as any to spring the idea that had come to him last night when he lay awake in bed. “I will ask Caroline to dine with me on board tonight.”
Both of Brice’s eyebrows rose. “You will never get her father to agree.”
“I am not going to ask him,” Stephan said. “The prince already agreed I could have equal time with Caroline.”
Brice looked skeptical. “Need I remind you that there will be crew about theSea Master? That is a bit different than you and Caroline secluded in the small confines of this cabin.”
“Much as the idea of beingsecludedwith Caroline appeals to me,” Stephan replied, “I will have to observe protocol for once.”
“You actually listened to me last night?” Brice asked, one eyebrow arching again. “And how exactly are you going to do that?”
